Middle Tennesee State University Athletics
NOTEBOOK: Baseball heads to Ruston for 2024 Conference USA Tournament
5/20/2024 5:15:00 PM | Baseball, General, Men's Golf, Men's Tennis
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — With a win over Dallas Baptist on Senior Day (as well as a trio of losses for Jacksonville State), Middle Tennessee clinched the final spot in the 2024 CUSA Baseball Tournament over the weekend, which starts this Wednesday in Ruston, La.
The eighth-seeded Blue Raiders will take on host and No. 1 seed Louisiana Tech in their opening game, currently set for 4 p.m. on Wednesday (though as always with single-site tournaments, stand-by for changes in the schedule due to weather or games running over).
The tournament will feature a pair of double-elimination brackets, with the winner of each side facing off in a winner-take-all Championship Game on Sunday. The other two teams in the Blue Raiders' side of the double-elimination bracket are No. 4 seed Sam Houston and No. 5 seed Liberty.
Peterson Plaza Debuts ahead of Senior Day
Thank you to all of the Blue Raider baseball alumni and supporters who came out to open the new Steve Peterson Champions Plaza outside the gates of Reese Smith Jr. Field this weekend!
The Steve Peterson Champions Plaza honors the former coach's legacy to Middle Tennessee baseball, along with the numerous championship teams he coached. The plaza also honors all championship teams prior to the Peterson era and will honor those to come.
The plaza displays championship flags from each championship season with marble foundations. The marble foundations have engraved plaques with the names of each coach, player and manager associated with that specific championship team.
RSVP for next week's Blue Raider Blitz!
Blue Raider fans, the Blue Raider Blitz will be here before you know it and if you want to ensure that you and your family can partake in the festivities at each stop, we kindly request that you RSVP at this link.
Letting us know you are coming will guarantee access to enter and win prizes, and to prepare for light refreshments at certain locations. Food and beverages will also be available for purchase at each stop.
You can find the full schedule for the Blitz below! We can't wait for y'all to join us to hear more from Coach Derek Mason and a plethora of other Blue Raiders at each stop!
Tuesday, May 28
Murfreesboro, TN — 5:30 p.m. – Happy's Sports Lounge
Wednesday, May 29
Tullahoma, TN — 11:30 a.m. – Ascend Federal Credit Union Corporate Headquarters
Shelbyville, TN — 5:30 p.m. – Riverbend Country Club
Thursday, May 30
Smyrna, TN — 11:30 a.m. – Smyrna Event Center
Nashville, TN — 5:30 p.m. – Tailgate Brewery Headquarters
Men's Tennis heads to Stillwater for NCAA Championships
Senior Leo Raquin and Sophomore Ondrej Horak are set to represent Middle Tennessee and Conference USA on Tuesday, May 21 in the NCAA Doubles Championship and Raquin will compete in the NCAA Singles Championships on Monday, May 20 at Michael and Anne Greenwood Tennis Center on the campus of Oklahoma State University.
No. 28 Raquin and Horak (16-6) earned the CUSA automatic bid by obtaining the highest-ranked doubles pairing in the conference at the conclusion of the regular season. The Blue Raider duo will face No. 22 Freddy Blaydes and Niels Ratiu of Georgia in the opening Round of 32 on Tuesday.
No. 44 Raquin (18-9) obtained the CUSA automatic bid by securing the highest-ranked singles player in the conference. Raquin will take on No. 7 Jake Fearnley of TCU in the Round of 64 on Monday, May 20 at 4 p.m. CT.
Stamper forces playoff at West Lafayette Regional
Middle Tennessee's Owen Stamper soared up the leaderboard again on Wednesday at the NCAA West Lafayette Regional, but his bid for a spot as an individual at the NCAA Championship was cut short in a 3-man playoff.
Stamper carded a 68 (-4) in round three, tied for the second-best round of the day. He improved nine spots on the leaderboard, finishing tied for fourth overall at 5-under (211) at the end of 54 holes.
Wisconsin's Cameron Huss and Mississippi State's Garrett Endicott tied Stamper after 54 holes to force a 3-man playoff to determine who would advance as an individual to the NCAA Championship.
All three players parred the first playoff hole and bogeyed the second. Stamper was eliminated in the third hole of the playoff. Wisconsin's Huss later clinched his spot in the NCAA Championship on the fifth playoff hole.
"There's obviously some emotion to be that close and come up short," assistant coach Payne Denman, who was onsite with Stamper for his run, said. "However, after the first nine holes of the tournament, we would've been thrilled to be in that position. Owen played phenomenal the last two days, and I'm super proud of him. I'm grateful to have been a coach for him these last two years, and I look forward to seeing what the future holds for him!"
"It was a great week for Owen," Head Coach Mark McEntire summed up. "I hope he takes this as a confidence booster knowing that he played with the best players in the country and belongs on that stage. We thank him for everything he did for us as a Blue Raider, and we wish him nothing but the best in his professional career."
Blue Raiders are all over the 2024 All-CUSA Men's Golf list
Five Blue Raiders earned All-Conference USA Men's Golf honors, the CUSA office announced on Wednesday.
Owen Stamper was named First Team All-Conference, while Michael Barnard was named to the All-CUSA Second Team. Markus Varjun and Kevin Jegers were both All-CUSA Third Team members, while Sheldon McKnight earned a spot on the Conference USA All-Freshman Team.
"I am excited to see us well represented with awards in the Conference," head coach Mark McEntire said. "Nice to send out our seniors with awards and happy for Markus and Sheldon."
Middle Tennessee's four All-CUSA selections are the most the Blue Raiders have earned since joining the league for the 2013-14 season and tied for the most All-Conference selections in any league MTSU has been a part of with the four All-OVC selections in the Blue Raiders garnered in 1979.
229 Blue Raiders Named to CUSA All-Academic Lists
A total of 2,403 student-athletes have earned recognition to the Commissioner's Honor Roll during the 2023-24 academic year, Commissioner Judy MacLeod announced Wednesday. MTSU had 229 student-athletes make the list.
Student-athletes named to the Commissioner's Honor Roll maintain a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or better. You can check out a full list of MTSU's honorees here.
Of those 229, 77 Blue Raiders maintained an average of 3.75 or better to earn the Commissioner's Academic Medal. You can find those 77 Blue Raiders here.
Coach Mason is getting out into the Murfreesboro Community
Ahead of the return of players to campus later this summer, Head Football Coach Derek Mason has been busy meeting with community leaders across the Midstate.
The eighth-seeded Blue Raiders will take on host and No. 1 seed Louisiana Tech in their opening game, currently set for 4 p.m. on Wednesday (though as always with single-site tournaments, stand-by for changes in the schedule due to weather or games running over).
The tournament will feature a pair of double-elimination brackets, with the winner of each side facing off in a winner-take-all Championship Game on Sunday. The other two teams in the Blue Raiders' side of the double-elimination bracket are No. 4 seed Sam Houston and No. 5 seed Liberty.
The stage is set for the 2024 CUSA Baseball Championship in Ruston ‼️#NoLimitsOnUs | https://t.co/BRPg93Sfoc pic.twitter.com/aTvlPqTJrC
— Conference USA (@ConferenceUSA) May 18, 2024
Peterson Plaza Debuts ahead of Senior Day
Thank you to all of the Blue Raider baseball alumni and supporters who came out to open the new Steve Peterson Champions Plaza outside the gates of Reese Smith Jr. Field this weekend!
The Steve Peterson Champions Plaza honors the former coach's legacy to Middle Tennessee baseball, along with the numerous championship teams he coached. The plaza also honors all championship teams prior to the Peterson era and will honor those to come.
The plaza displays championship flags from each championship season with marble foundations. The marble foundations have engraved plaques with the names of each coach, player and manager associated with that specific championship team.
It was a special morning as we officially dedicated and opened the Steve Peterson Champions Plaza.@MT_Baseball | #BLUEnited pic.twitter.com/jlgfu1o1A7
— Middle Tennessee Athletics (@MTAthletics) May 18, 2024
RSVP for next week's Blue Raider Blitz!
Blue Raider fans, the Blue Raider Blitz will be here before you know it and if you want to ensure that you and your family can partake in the festivities at each stop, we kindly request that you RSVP at this link.
Letting us know you are coming will guarantee access to enter and win prizes, and to prepare for light refreshments at certain locations. Food and beverages will also be available for purchase at each stop.
You can find the full schedule for the Blitz below! We can't wait for y'all to join us to hear more from Coach Derek Mason and a plethora of other Blue Raiders at each stop!
Tuesday, May 28
Murfreesboro, TN — 5:30 p.m. – Happy's Sports Lounge
Wednesday, May 29
Tullahoma, TN — 11:30 a.m. – Ascend Federal Credit Union Corporate Headquarters
Shelbyville, TN — 5:30 p.m. – Riverbend Country Club
Thursday, May 30
Smyrna, TN — 11:30 a.m. – Smyrna Event Center
Nashville, TN — 5:30 p.m. – Tailgate Brewery Headquarters
We'll see you NEXT WEEK at the Blue Raider Blitz! Don't miss our stop in Nashville on Thursday night!
— Middle Tennessee Athletics (@MTAthletics) May 20, 2024
📰 Details: https://t.co/M4SfKP68Lh
🔗 RSVP: https://t.co/BzJHSTY2Hh#BLUEnited pic.twitter.com/sdOrI8Uvus
Men's Tennis heads to Stillwater for NCAA Championships
Senior Leo Raquin and Sophomore Ondrej Horak are set to represent Middle Tennessee and Conference USA on Tuesday, May 21 in the NCAA Doubles Championship and Raquin will compete in the NCAA Singles Championships on Monday, May 20 at Michael and Anne Greenwood Tennis Center on the campus of Oklahoma State University.
No. 28 Raquin and Horak (16-6) earned the CUSA automatic bid by obtaining the highest-ranked doubles pairing in the conference at the conclusion of the regular season. The Blue Raider duo will face No. 22 Freddy Blaydes and Niels Ratiu of Georgia in the opening Round of 32 on Tuesday.
No. 44 Raquin (18-9) obtained the CUSA automatic bid by securing the highest-ranked singles player in the conference. Raquin will take on No. 7 Jake Fearnley of TCU in the Round of 64 on Monday, May 20 at 4 p.m. CT.
NCAA Championships 🔜#BLUEnited pic.twitter.com/ZtaT4H7MlA
— Middle Tennessee Men's Tennis (@MT_MensTennis) May 20, 2024
Your #BlueRaiders are 1️⃣ of 2️⃣8️⃣ teams in the country being represented in all three NCAA tournaments! 💪#BLUEnited pic.twitter.com/jDrYi82470
— Middle Tennessee Men's Tennis (@MT_MensTennis) May 2, 2024
Stamper forces playoff at West Lafayette Regional
Middle Tennessee's Owen Stamper soared up the leaderboard again on Wednesday at the NCAA West Lafayette Regional, but his bid for a spot as an individual at the NCAA Championship was cut short in a 3-man playoff.
Stamper carded a 68 (-4) in round three, tied for the second-best round of the day. He improved nine spots on the leaderboard, finishing tied for fourth overall at 5-under (211) at the end of 54 holes.
Wisconsin's Cameron Huss and Mississippi State's Garrett Endicott tied Stamper after 54 holes to force a 3-man playoff to determine who would advance as an individual to the NCAA Championship.
All three players parred the first playoff hole and bogeyed the second. Stamper was eliminated in the third hole of the playoff. Wisconsin's Huss later clinched his spot in the NCAA Championship on the fifth playoff hole.
It was moving day in a big way for @ostamper9, who jumped 27 spots in round two of the NCAA West Lafayette Regional.
— Middle Tennessee Men's Golf (@MT_MGolf) May 14, 2024
📰 Round 2 recap: https://t.co/0WGxf3b1ny#BLUEnited pic.twitter.com/zsNKyp4pQo
"There's obviously some emotion to be that close and come up short," assistant coach Payne Denman, who was onsite with Stamper for his run, said. "However, after the first nine holes of the tournament, we would've been thrilled to be in that position. Owen played phenomenal the last two days, and I'm super proud of him. I'm grateful to have been a coach for him these last two years, and I look forward to seeing what the future holds for him!"
"It was a great week for Owen," Head Coach Mark McEntire summed up. "I hope he takes this as a confidence booster knowing that he played with the best players in the country and belongs on that stage. We thank him for everything he did for us as a Blue Raider, and we wish him nothing but the best in his professional career."
Blue Raiders are all over the 2024 All-CUSA Men's Golf list
Five Blue Raiders earned All-Conference USA Men's Golf honors, the CUSA office announced on Wednesday.
Owen Stamper was named First Team All-Conference, while Michael Barnard was named to the All-CUSA Second Team. Markus Varjun and Kevin Jegers were both All-CUSA Third Team members, while Sheldon McKnight earned a spot on the Conference USA All-Freshman Team.
5️⃣ Blue Raiders have earned All-@ConferenceUSA honors!
— Middle Tennessee Men's Golf (@MT_MGolf) May 15, 2024
⛳️ @ostamper9 – First Team
⛳️ Michael Barnard – Second Team
⛳️ Markus Varjun & Kevin Jegers – Third Team
⛳️ @smcknight2022 – Freshman Team
📰 Details: https://t.co/w1N8wgHjLf pic.twitter.com/RqgAOiwQlo
"I am excited to see us well represented with awards in the Conference," head coach Mark McEntire said. "Nice to send out our seniors with awards and happy for Markus and Sheldon."
Middle Tennessee's four All-CUSA selections are the most the Blue Raiders have earned since joining the league for the 2013-14 season and tied for the most All-Conference selections in any league MTSU has been a part of with the four All-OVC selections in the Blue Raiders garnered in 1979.
229 Blue Raiders Named to CUSA All-Academic Lists
A total of 2,403 student-athletes have earned recognition to the Commissioner's Honor Roll during the 2023-24 academic year, Commissioner Judy MacLeod announced Wednesday. MTSU had 229 student-athletes make the list.
Student-athletes named to the Commissioner's Honor Roll maintain a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or better. You can check out a full list of MTSU's honorees here.
Of those 229, 77 Blue Raiders maintained an average of 3.75 or better to earn the Commissioner's Academic Medal. You can find those 77 Blue Raiders here.
Coach Mason is getting out into the Murfreesboro Community
Ahead of the return of players to campus later this summer, Head Football Coach Derek Mason has been busy meeting with community leaders across the Midstate.
Continuing to connect the program with the community. @CoachDerekMason spent time at the Chamber of Commerce and the Exchange Club today.#BoroBuiltMiddleMade pic.twitter.com/0AJ28kM6sJ
— Middle Tennessee Football (@MT_FB) May 15, 2024
Doing the work in the community this afternoon 🤝@CoachDerekMason spoke with the Murfreesboro Optimist Club at lunch today. #BoroBuiltMiddleMade pic.twitter.com/kizkJQVoYg
— Middle Tennessee Football (@MT_FB) May 14, 2024
Players Mentioned
/ Men's Golf
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Golf
/ Men's Golf
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Golf
/ Men's Golf
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