Middle Tennesee State University Athletics
Saturday, February 22
Murfreesboro, Tenn.
1 p.m.
Middle Tennessee
3-3
10
vs
0
FDU
0-5
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
R
H
E
FDU
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
2
1
Middle Tennessee
1
2
0
1
5
0
1
10
9
0
Photo by: Emily Cole/MT Athletic Communications
Chandler Alderman's six scoreless innings and Eston Snider's grand slam lead Middle Tennessee to a mercy-rule victory, 10-0 vs FDU
2/22/2025 4:58:00 PM | Baseball
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — Middle Tennessee shut out FDU, 10-0, to clinch the series victory Saturday, Feb. 22, in a seven-inning mercy-rule win.
Chandler Alderman started things on the mound, retiring the first seven batters in a row. He struck out one in the top of the first, sending the Blue Raiders (3-3, 0-0 CUSA) to the plate for the first time. Brett Vondohlen quickly capitalized on a mistake pitch by the Knights (0-5, 0-0 NEC), sending one off the Lee Victory Wall in left field to start the game, 1-0.
Middle Tennessee struck again in the second with two runs. Clay Badylak hit a sacrifice fly, and Brett Rogers slashed an infield single for his first collegiate hit, scoring Matt Wolfe.
Vondohlen grabbed an RBI on a groundout in the fourth before the big fifth inning for the Blue Crew offense. Trace Phillips earned a walk and was sent to second on a Nathan Brewer single. Wolfe worked a walk to load the bases for Badylak, who also walked to score a run. That brought up Eston Snider with the bases juiced, and he hit his first career grand slam, making the score 9-0 heading into the sixth.
On the mound, Alderman had his way, not allowing a run to score in his six innings of work, giving up just two hits and one walk en route to his first win of the season.
In the seventh inning, Garrett Sims came in for relief, shutting down the Knights with two strikeouts and no hits.
The bottom of the seventh arrived, and the Blue Raiders ended the game there. Tyler Minnick hit an RBI single to score Badylak, mercying FDU, 10-0, in just seven innings.
By the Numbers
"Chandler did a really nice job today and gave us an opportunity to get another guy to throw tomorrow. He just filled the zone up pretty well. For the most part, he was throwing strike one and got ahead of hitters with his fastball that has some cut to it."
Player Perspective (Chandler Alderman)
"I had a lot of confidence going out there today and trusted myself to get it done."
Player Perspective (Eston Snider)
With a grin on his face, Snider was asked what he was seeing at the plate. He answered, "Honestly, just baseballs. They're throwing them in there, and I'm just reacting. I've been taught really well, and it worked out for me today. I was jealous of Badylak because he kept coming up with runners on base. I just wanted to make the most of the opportunity I was given."
Up Next
MTSU hosts the series finale against FDU on Sunday, Feb. 23, at 1 p.m. at "The Reese."
Follow the Blue Raiders
Stay up to date with the Blue Raiders on Twitter (@MT_Baseball), Facebook (Blue Raider Baseball), and Instagram (@MT_Baseball).
Chandler Alderman started things on the mound, retiring the first seven batters in a row. He struck out one in the top of the first, sending the Blue Raiders (3-3, 0-0 CUSA) to the plate for the first time. Brett Vondohlen quickly capitalized on a mistake pitch by the Knights (0-5, 0-0 NEC), sending one off the Lee Victory Wall in left field to start the game, 1-0.
Middle Tennessee struck again in the second with two runs. Clay Badylak hit a sacrifice fly, and Brett Rogers slashed an infield single for his first collegiate hit, scoring Matt Wolfe.
Vondohlen grabbed an RBI on a groundout in the fourth before the big fifth inning for the Blue Crew offense. Trace Phillips earned a walk and was sent to second on a Nathan Brewer single. Wolfe worked a walk to load the bases for Badylak, who also walked to score a run. That brought up Eston Snider with the bases juiced, and he hit his first career grand slam, making the score 9-0 heading into the sixth.
On the mound, Alderman had his way, not allowing a run to score in his six innings of work, giving up just two hits and one walk en route to his first win of the season.
In the seventh inning, Garrett Sims came in for relief, shutting down the Knights with two strikeouts and no hits.
The bottom of the seventh arrived, and the Blue Raiders ended the game there. Tyler Minnick hit an RBI single to score Badylak, mercying FDU, 10-0, in just seven innings.
By the Numbers
- 28: Eston Snider ranks second in MTSU history with 28 hit-by-pitches in his career. He added two to the total today in the second and fourth innings.
- 2: Chandler Alderman gave up just two hits on the day with no runs scored. His ERA drops to 1.15 on the season.
- 3: Brett Vondohlen hit his third homer of the year in the first inning to give the Blue Raiders an early lead.
"Chandler did a really nice job today and gave us an opportunity to get another guy to throw tomorrow. He just filled the zone up pretty well. For the most part, he was throwing strike one and got ahead of hitters with his fastball that has some cut to it."
Player Perspective (Chandler Alderman)
"I had a lot of confidence going out there today and trusted myself to get it done."
Player Perspective (Eston Snider)
With a grin on his face, Snider was asked what he was seeing at the plate. He answered, "Honestly, just baseballs. They're throwing them in there, and I'm just reacting. I've been taught really well, and it worked out for me today. I was jealous of Badylak because he kept coming up with runners on base. I just wanted to make the most of the opportunity I was given."
Up Next
MTSU hosts the series finale against FDU on Sunday, Feb. 23, at 1 p.m. at "The Reese."
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: Alderman, Chandler (1-1)
L: CHEESEMAN, Jeremy (0-2)
Base Running:
SB: STROH, Travis 1
HBP: GOMEZ JR., Franklin 1
Batting:
2B: Minnick, Tyler 1 ; Wolfe, Matt 1
HR: Snider, Eston 1 ; Vondohlen, Brett 1
RBI: Snider, Eston 4 ; Vondohlen, Brett 2 ; Minnick, Tyler 2 ; Badylak, Clay 2 ; Rogers, Brett 1
SF: Badylak, Clay 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Snider, Eston 1 ; Vondohlen, Brett 1 ; Phillips, Trace 1 ; Brewer, Nathan 2 ; Wolfe, Matt 2 ; Badylak, Clay 3
SB: Snider, Eston 1
HBP: Snider, Eston 2
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
4
R
0
H
2
RBI
2
AB
3
R
0
H
2
RBI
1
AB
2
R
1
H
1
RBI
4
AB
4
R
1
H
1
RBI
2
Players Mentioned
LHP
/ Baseball
INF
/ Baseball
OF
/ BaseballC
/ Baseball
INF/RHP
/ Baseball
OF
/ Baseball
LHP
/ Baseball
OF
/ Baseball
INF/RHP
/ Baseball
INF
/ BaseballFacility tour – Stephen and Denise Smith Student-Athlete Performance Center
Wednesday, July 30
Spring Sports Show hosted by The Boulevard – April 21, 2025: Softball and Baseball
Monday, April 21
🎥 from the 52nd annual Groundhog Day Luncheon! Also, we play baseball this month 🤩
Sunday, February 02
MTSU Baseball 2025 52nd Annual Groundhog Day Luncheon
Friday, January 31
