Middle Tennesee State University Athletics
Friday, February 14
Murfreesboro, Tenn.
3 p.m.
Middle Tennessee
1-0
18
vs
0
Bowling Green
0-1
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
R
H
E
Bowling Green
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
5
3
Middle Tennessee
5
0
0
2
0
1
2
8
X
18
15
2
Photo by: Emily Cole/MT Athletic Communications
Middle Tennessee dominates game one, drops second of double-header
2/14/2025 11:26:00 PM | Baseball
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — Middle Tennessee dominated the first game of the season and doubleheader, 18-0, but couldn't grab the second game as MTSU dropped 7-6 on Friday, Feb. 14, at The Reese.
The Blue Raider offense came out of the gate firing on all cylinders, scoring five runs in the first inning. Cooper Clapp led off with a double off the right-field wall, followed by a Trace Phillips walk. Catcher Tyler Minnick came to the plate for the first time as a Blue Raider and made the most of it, hitting a single to the opposite side of the field to score Clapp from second. Brett Vondohlen got in on the action with an RBI single of his own, which scored Phillips. Nathan Brewer didn't want the action to stop with him as he ripped a double over the center fielder's head, leaving two runners on for Hayden Miller to hit the first homer of the season for MTSU to lead 5-0 after one inning.
The scoring slowed for two complete innings before picking up again in the fourth, with Eston Snider and Matt Wolfe each crossing the plate. MTSU added three more runs in the sixth and seventh before the huge eighth inning.
The Blue Raiders plated eight runs on four hits, using four walks, two singles, and a Nathan Brewer blast to right field to put the game away, dominating in the season opener with an 18-0 win over Bowling Green.
On the mound, two-way star Trace Phillips started for the Blue Raiders, thriving for six innings, striking out eight while allowing only four hits to the Falcons. He came out throwing his fastball at 97 mph and used his off-speed pitches to keep the hitters honest. He quickly got into a groove, striking out two in the first inning. He ended with eight, marking the second-most strikeouts in his career (nine vs. Jacksonville State on May 12, 2024). He also tied his second-longest start of his career, throwing six complete innings.
Landen Burch came in the game in the seventh, allowing just one hit while striking out five to shut down the Falcons in game one, earning a three-inning save — his first as a Blue Raider. His pitch mix and velocity differed from Phillips, and the Falcons couldn't adjust in time to be shut out in the season opener.
In game two, the Blue Raiders got off to a nice start with a two-run, line-drive home run by Minnick but were answered by the Falcons, who scored five unanswered runs in the third and fourth innings.
MTSU kept fighting back, however, with a Keaton Ray two-run RBI single that drove in Brewer and Clapp to make the score 5-4 in the fifth inning.
The Falcons pushed across two more runs in the sixth inning to make it 7-4, but once again, the Blue Raiders didn't back down from the deficit. Clapp reached on a fielder's choice, which scored Hayden Miller. He then pulled off a delayed double steal of second, causing BGSU to allow Wolfe to score from third, while Clapp easily strolled into second to bring the score to 7-6.
On the mound, preseason All-Conference USA pitcher Chandler Alderman threw 3.2 innings, striking out three batters while giving up six hits, three walks, and allowing two earned runs. Out of the bullpen, Jonny Stevens entered the game in the fourth with the bases loaded and two outs. He threw a two-pitch flyout to right field to escape the looming large inning. Stevens pitched two more frames, striking out two batters and walking none. Will Jenkins came in for the final three innings of work, shutting down the Falcons' offense to keep them scoreless for the rest of the game. He allowed just two hits and walked none in his first appearance of the season.
The Blue Crew couldn't find another run in the tank, dropping the second game of the doubleheader.
Georgia Tech transfer and team captain Tyler Minnick went 3-for-6 on the day with two walks, three RBIs, including a two-run blast to left field in game two, and threw out a runner attempting to steal second. The redshirt junior proved to be a pivotal part of the Blue Raider lineup on Friday night.
By the numbers:
The Skipper Speaks (Jerry Meyers): "We did everything in that first game that we could possibly do. We did well in all phases, played some good defense, and pitched really well. We didn't play poorly in the second game either, though. There were a couple plays here and there, an at-bat here and there that could've gone better, but that's a good team. I liked our guys' mindset and effort, so we need to prove it every day."
Player Perspective (Tyler Minnick): "I felt very comfortable tonight. Our coaching staff did a great job getting us prepared for today, so I had a good idea going up there to the plate. As a team today, we had a great approach with the offense tonight. The pitching staff was great today. We have a lot of dogs on this staff. Trace Phillips did amazing. Working with him is really easy. Same thing with Chandler (Alderman) and the guys in the bullpen who came in relief. Every single one of them is extremely hard-working, so it's not hard to get along with them."
Up next: The Blue Raiders will host the series finale, scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 15th at 1 p.m. With rainy weather looming, keep an eye on social media and GoBlueRaiders.com for updates.
Follow the Blue Raiders: Stay up to date with the Blue Raiders on Twitter (@MT_Baseball), Facebook (Blue Raider Baseball), and Instagram (@MT_Baseball).
The Blue Raider offense came out of the gate firing on all cylinders, scoring five runs in the first inning. Cooper Clapp led off with a double off the right-field wall, followed by a Trace Phillips walk. Catcher Tyler Minnick came to the plate for the first time as a Blue Raider and made the most of it, hitting a single to the opposite side of the field to score Clapp from second. Brett Vondohlen got in on the action with an RBI single of his own, which scored Phillips. Nathan Brewer didn't want the action to stop with him as he ripped a double over the center fielder's head, leaving two runners on for Hayden Miller to hit the first homer of the season for MTSU to lead 5-0 after one inning.
The scoring slowed for two complete innings before picking up again in the fourth, with Eston Snider and Matt Wolfe each crossing the plate. MTSU added three more runs in the sixth and seventh before the huge eighth inning.
The Blue Raiders plated eight runs on four hits, using four walks, two singles, and a Nathan Brewer blast to right field to put the game away, dominating in the season opener with an 18-0 win over Bowling Green.
On the mound, two-way star Trace Phillips started for the Blue Raiders, thriving for six innings, striking out eight while allowing only four hits to the Falcons. He came out throwing his fastball at 97 mph and used his off-speed pitches to keep the hitters honest. He quickly got into a groove, striking out two in the first inning. He ended with eight, marking the second-most strikeouts in his career (nine vs. Jacksonville State on May 12, 2024). He also tied his second-longest start of his career, throwing six complete innings.
Landen Burch came in the game in the seventh, allowing just one hit while striking out five to shut down the Falcons in game one, earning a three-inning save — his first as a Blue Raider. His pitch mix and velocity differed from Phillips, and the Falcons couldn't adjust in time to be shut out in the season opener.
In game two, the Blue Raiders got off to a nice start with a two-run, line-drive home run by Minnick but were answered by the Falcons, who scored five unanswered runs in the third and fourth innings.
MTSU kept fighting back, however, with a Keaton Ray two-run RBI single that drove in Brewer and Clapp to make the score 5-4 in the fifth inning.
The Falcons pushed across two more runs in the sixth inning to make it 7-4, but once again, the Blue Raiders didn't back down from the deficit. Clapp reached on a fielder's choice, which scored Hayden Miller. He then pulled off a delayed double steal of second, causing BGSU to allow Wolfe to score from third, while Clapp easily strolled into second to bring the score to 7-6.
On the mound, preseason All-Conference USA pitcher Chandler Alderman threw 3.2 innings, striking out three batters while giving up six hits, three walks, and allowing two earned runs. Out of the bullpen, Jonny Stevens entered the game in the fourth with the bases loaded and two outs. He threw a two-pitch flyout to right field to escape the looming large inning. Stevens pitched two more frames, striking out two batters and walking none. Will Jenkins came in for the final three innings of work, shutting down the Falcons' offense to keep them scoreless for the rest of the game. He allowed just two hits and walked none in his first appearance of the season.
The Blue Crew couldn't find another run in the tank, dropping the second game of the doubleheader.
Georgia Tech transfer and team captain Tyler Minnick went 3-for-6 on the day with two walks, three RBIs, including a two-run blast to left field in game two, and threw out a runner attempting to steal second. The redshirt junior proved to be a pivotal part of the Blue Raider lineup on Friday night.
By the numbers:
- 0: The Blue Raiders shut out the Falcons in the first game, marking the first time since Chandler Alderman's no-hitter last season.
- 18: Runs is the most the Blue Raiders have plated under Head Coach Meyers and Coach Nic and the most since May 15, 2022, vs. Rice (21).
- 8: Strikeouts by Trace Phillips, the second-most in his career. He also recorded his second-longest outing of his career with six shutout innings pitched.
- 3: Three home runs hit by Blue Raiders throughout the doubleheader (Miller, Brewer, Minnick).
- 13: Phillips and Burch combined for 13 strikeouts in game one.
The Skipper Speaks (Jerry Meyers): "We did everything in that first game that we could possibly do. We did well in all phases, played some good defense, and pitched really well. We didn't play poorly in the second game either, though. There were a couple plays here and there, an at-bat here and there that could've gone better, but that's a good team. I liked our guys' mindset and effort, so we need to prove it every day."
Player Perspective (Tyler Minnick): "I felt very comfortable tonight. Our coaching staff did a great job getting us prepared for today, so I had a good idea going up there to the plate. As a team today, we had a great approach with the offense tonight. The pitching staff was great today. We have a lot of dogs on this staff. Trace Phillips did amazing. Working with him is really easy. Same thing with Chandler (Alderman) and the guys in the bullpen who came in relief. Every single one of them is extremely hard-working, so it's not hard to get along with them."
Up next: The Blue Raiders will host the series finale, scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 15th at 1 p.m. With rainy weather looming, keep an eye on social media and GoBlueRaiders.com for updates.
Follow the Blue Raiders: Stay up to date with the Blue Raiders on Twitter (@MT_Baseball), Facebook (Blue Raider Baseball), and Instagram (@MT_Baseball).
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Phillips, Trace (1-0)
L: GOOD, Nic (0-1)
S: Burch, Landen (1)
Batting:
2B: SEIDEL, Sam 1
Base Running:
SB: ANTILLON, Gunner 1
HBP: SLOAN, Garrett 1
Batting:
2B: Clapp, Cooper 1 ; Brewer, Nathan 1
HR: Brewer, Nathan 1 ; Miller, Hayden 1
RBI: Clapp, Cooper 2 ; Phillips, Trace 1 ; Minnick, Tyler 1 ; Junnila, Jaxon 2 ; Vondohlen, Brett 1 ; Vinson, Cale 3 ; Brewer, Nathan 3 ; Miller, Hayden 2 ; Snider, Eston 1
SH: Clapp, Cooper 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Clapp, Cooper 2 ; Phillips, Trace 1 ; Badylak, Clay 1 ; Junnila, Jaxon 1 ; Ray, Keaton 2 ; Vondohlen, Brett 1 ; Brewer, Nathan 2 ; Miller, Hayden 2 ; Wolfe, Matt 3 ; Snider, Eston 3
HBP: Clapp, Cooper 1 ; Junnila, Jaxon 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
4
R
3
H
3
RBI
1
AB
4
R
2
H
2
RBI
2
AB
4
R
2
H
2
RBI
3
AB
3
R
3
H
2
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
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RHP
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RHP
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INF
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C
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INF/RHP
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OF
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RHP
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INF/RHP
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