Softball drops series finale with Liberty in ninth inning

Sunday, April 14

Murfreesboro, Tenn.

12:00 PM CT

Middle Tennessee

18-27, 0

Liberty

26-16, 0

LIBERTY

Middle Tennessee

4/14/2024 3:05:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

By: @MTAthletics

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – Middle Tennessee softball (18-27, 5-13) dropped the series finale with Liberty (26-16, 15-3) after nine innings of play on Sunday.

Claire Woods started in Sunday's series finale and recorded two first-inning strikeouts.

Ansley Blevins would hit a two-run home run in the first inning to give MTSU an early lead. Her 13^th homer of the season is the third most in a single season in program history. It was the 41^st home run of the season for the Blue Raiders to tie the team single-season program record.

Liberty tied the game up immediately in the second inning with two runs. Free bases allowed the Flames to capitalize and even the game. Mary Martinez entered the game to limit the damage and get out of the inning.

Lexi Medlock delivered a double to score Ashlee Jacoway and give MTSU a one-run lead after the fourth inning.

Martinez held the Flames scoreless for three consecutive innings before they broke through with one in the sixth to tie the game.

Martinez would come out for the seventh inning to limit Liberty once again to keep the game tied at three and give the Blue Raider bats a chance to win it in the bottom half. Medlock reached base to start the inning but was left stranded on third to send the game to extra innings.

Liberty would take a one-run lead in the ninth on a two-out solo home run.

Offensively, Shelby Echols recorded two hits and a run scored in today's nine inning game. The senior from Pearland, Texas leads CUSA with 48 hits on the year. Blevins added two RBI with her 13^th home run in the first inning. Medlock contributed at the plate once again today with a RBI double.

Martinez threw 8.0 innings and only allowed two earned runs on five hits to the Flames. She also recorded two strikeouts late in the game.

By the Numbers

· 13 – home runs by Blevins is the second most in CUSA, while her nine in league play leads CUSA
· 48 – hits by Echols leads CUSA
· 41 – home runs by the Blue Raiders this season tied the single-season program record

Up Next

The Blue Raiders will host Tennessee State on Wednesday.

Follow the Blue Raiders
Follow Middle Tennessee Softball on social media on Facebook (Blue Raider Softball), Twitter (@MT_Softball) and Instagram (@mt_softball).