Middle Tennesee State University Athletics
Middle Tennessee
Alabama
Middle Tennessee baseball starts midweek slate traveling to Alabama
2/18/2025 12:39:00 PM | Baseball
Feb. 18, 2025 | Sewell-Thomas Stadium | Tuscaloosa, Ala. |
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Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders 1-2, 0-0 CUSA |
at | Alabama Crimson Tide 3-0, 0-0 SEC |
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TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - Middle Tennessee baseball is set to open its midweek slate on the road at Alabama. The Crimson Tide are coming off of a three-game sweep of the Bradley Braves, while MTSU is looking to bounce back from a series loss vs BGSU. First pitch is scheduled for 4 p.m and will be broadcasted on SEC+ and ESPN+
Middle Tennessee (1-2) vs. Alabama (3-0)
Tuesday, Feb. 18
» Time / Site 4 p.m. at Sewell-Thomas Stadium
Live Stats
Radio
All-Time Against Alabama
» This marks the 32nd meeting in series history between Middle Tennessee and Alabama
» Alabama leads the all-time series 22-9
» The Blue Raiders dropped last season's 'bout against the Crimson Tide, 1-6.
Opening Dominance: In the the 2025 season opener against the Bowling Green Falcons, Middle Tennessee dominated in all aspects taking the victory, 18-0. Trace Phillips took the win on the bump after throwing six shutout innings, striking out eight batters, and just allowing four hits and a walk. RHP Landen Burch came in for the three inning save, allowing just one hit and striking out five Falcon hitters. On the other side of the frame, The offense lit up the scoreboard for 18 runs, which is the most the Blue Raiders have had under head coach Jerry Meyers.
Blue Raider Debuts: Each of the 13 transfers that came to the 'Boro saw action in the first weekend of the year. Vanderbilt transfer, Matt Wolfe showed off his talents hitting for a .545 avg, with four runs scored and four walks. Catcher Tyler Minnick was not far behind with using a .455 avg to score twice, and hitting a two-run shot in the second game of the double header against BGSU. On the mound, Drew Horn took the bump throwing for six innings of one run ball, allowing just two hits and a walk.
Back for 112: 2025 will mark the 112th season of Blue Raider baseball dating back to 1913. This season will also be the 15th season inside Reese Smith Jr. Field since its most recent makeover, setting itself as one of the premier locations in Conference USA.
Home Sweet Home: The Blue Raiders are home for the 19 of the first 21 home games of the year. The Reese will host a total of 35 games throughout the 2025 season.
Meyers Back for Year Three: Head Coach Jerry Meyers is back for his third year at the helm. Meyers' interim tag was lifted after the 2023 season, and was extended as head baseball coach immediately.
Roster Turnover: More than half of the roster are incoming players. The Blue Raiders' used the Transfer Portal to grab 13 new guys ranging from Juco to D1 programs with 10 freshmen added as well.
Number 80: Two-Way Sophomore Superstar Trace Phillips is ranked as the 80th best prospect by MLB Pipeline in the 2025 MLB Draft coming in June. He looks to be the highest Blue Raider selected in the MLB draft since Bryce Brentz (36th) in June of 2010.
Eston "Bean" Snider: Outfielder Eston Snider has reached high ranks in the Blue Raider record book, sitting in third place in hit-by-pitches with 26 in his career. Snider's past two seasons were awarded with spots on the top 10 single-season list. He also is just 11 beanings away from becoming the program record holder for career hit-by-pitches which is currently held by Rawley Bishop (2006-09) with 37.
Conference Honors: Three Blue Raiders were awarded a spot on the Preseason All-Conference USA Team. Chandler Alderman (LHP), Trace Phillips (UTL), and Eston Snider (OF). This is the most preseason Conference USA honors in MTSU history, and second most in CUSA this season.
Power Foes: MTSU will go on the road to face three teams who finished in the top-30 last season in the NCAA RPI in #28 Alabama, #24 Vanderbilt, and Conference USA foe #23 Dallas Baptist. The Blue Raiders will also go on to face nine teams this year, who finished in the top-100 in the RPI last season.
Raiders Dig The Long Ball: The Blue Raiders set a program record in the BBCor Era (2011-Present) with the most home runs in a single season in 2024. This was the 5th most long balls in all-time program history.
Throw Hard, Hit Hard: The 2024 Fall Ball Intrasquads were a success for high velocity pitching and high exit velocity for hitters. 14 pitchers hit at least 90 MPH on the radar gun with three players hitting over 95 (Drew Horn 97, Trace Phillips 97, and Matthew Driver 95).
On the hitter's side, there were 13 players who had at least one 103+ MPH hit during the intrasquad live at-bats. There were six guys with at least 105 MPH off the bat (Brett Vondohlen 109, Brett Rogers 109, Trace Phillips 108, Eston Snider 107, Kenny McKinley 106, Hayden Miller 105).
New Names in Conference: Conference USA added Kennesaw State to the league while announcing the additions of Delaware and Missouri State after the 2025 season to one of the premier conferences in college baseball.
Watch the Blue Raiders: MTSU home games will be on ESPN+ in 2025 starting on February 28th. Road game broadcasts are subject to the home team's broadcast protocols.
