MTSU sweeps Sam Houston in double header; Ava Tepe hits walk-off home run in game 2

Friday, March 14

Murfreesboro, Tenn.

3 PM

Middle Tennessee

12-14, 0

Sam Houston

11-15, 0

Sam Houston

MTSU

3/14/2025 9:08:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2 Photo Gallery Photo Gallery 2

Ammon and Coffman dominated the Bearkat offense for the Blue Raiders

By: Jake Freelund, MTSU Athletic Communications

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — Middle Tennessee softball secured back-to-back victories against Sam Houston in a doubleheader at Blue Raider Softball Field. The Blue Raiders won the first game 6-2 and took the second game 5-3.

How it Happened in Game 1
The Blue Raiders (12-15, 3-2) came out swinging, scoring three runs in the first inning on five hits. Notably, they did so against Sam Houston's (12-15, 2-3) Abigail Young, who entered the contest with the best ERA in Conference USA at 0.79.

Sam Houston closed the gap to 3-2 in the top of the fourth inning, but a Lexi Medlock sacrifice fly extended MTSU's lead to 4-2. Looking for insurance runs, Ansley Blevins delivered a no-doubt, two-run home run, securing a four-run lead that held for the remainder of the game. It was Blevins' team-high sixth home run of the season and the 26th of her career. The Jasper, Tenn., native now boasts a 1.032 OPS on the season, an impressive mark.

Tori Coffman pitched a complete game, allowing just four hits while lowering her season ERA to 3.38. It was her fourth complete game of the season.
The Blue Raiders recorded 11 hits, with four student-athletes collecting two each: Ansley Blevins, Addy Edgmon, Macie Harter, and Julia Garcia. Blevins led the team with three RBIs in the contest, bringing her season total to 15, which ranks second on the team.

How it Happened in Game 2
Offense proved to be a challenge for MTSU early in Game 2, as the team managed just one hit through the first six innings. However, stellar pitching from Leila Ammon kept the Blue Raiders in the game. Ammon threw a complete game, recording six strikeouts to tie her season-high. Despite MTSU committing four errors, Ammon allowed only three unearned runs, lowering her ERA to 2.50.

Trailing 3-0 entering the seventh inning, the Blue Raiders came alive at the plate. Jana Want and Julia Garcia opened the frame with singles, followed by a walk from Lexi Medlock. With the tying run on first base, Ansley Blevins delivered a deep single to drive in two runs.

After two quick outs, Ava Tepe stepped to the plate with the game on the line. Down in the count 0-2, Tepe battled back and crushed a no-doubt home run to right field, sealing the dramatic walk-off victory. It marked MTSU's fourth walk-off win of the season.

When asked about her home run, Ava Tepe said the following: "Nothing would've started if my teammates in front of me didn't get things going and put us in a position to win the game. I give them a lot of credit for coming through in the moments God has set for us. Before my at bat, I was just trusting in God and leaving it all up to him. Praise the Lord."

By the Numbers

7: The Blue Raiders improve to 7-0 when allowing two or fewer runs.
500: Julia Garcia recorded the 500^th plate appearance of her career in the second game.
5: Ansley Blevins recorded five RBIs across the double header, leading both teams.
23: MTSU has hit 23 home runs this season, led by Blevins (6), followed by Addy Edgmon and Jana Want (4 each).
3.28 The Blue Raiders hold a combined ERA of 3.28 with Ammon's 2.50 leading the way.

Up next
The Blue Raiders will look to complete the series sweep vs. Sam Houston on Sunday, March 16 with first pitch set for 11:00 am. The game will be streamed on ESPN+ and live stats can be found at Stat Broadcast.

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