Middle Tennesee State University Athletics
Sunday, March 16
Murfreesboro, Tenn.
12 p.m.
Middle Tennessee
11-7
4
vs
5
UAB
14-5
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10
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H
E
UAB
1
0
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Middle Tennessee
0
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6
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Photo by: JD Elliott/MTSU Athletic Communications
Blue Raiders split doubleheader with UAB; Takes series with 3-1 win in game two
3/16/2025 6:41:00 PM | Baseball
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — Middle Tennessee (12-7) took the series over former Conference USA rival UAB (14-6), splitting a doubleheader with the Blazers following yesterday's rainout.
Tyler Minnick, who caught game one and started at first base in game two, continued the roll he was on from Friday's game. Behind the plate, Minnick threw out his third would-be base stealer in game one and had a big two-RBI hit in game two to give the Blue Raiders a 3-1 lead and help them take the series.
Middle Tennessee starter Drew Horn allowed five base runners and a run to start game one but kept his no-hit streak alive until UAB right fielder Camden Hayslip poked a fly ball to left field, away from the shift. The former Siegel star struck out five and allowed just two earned runs in five innings.
Blazer starter Colin Daniel was just as good as advertised, allowing just three base runners through five-plus no-hit innings before the Blue Raiders broke through in the fifth inning.
Eston Snider reached base for the fifth time in seven at-bats to begin the inning, then the middle of the order struck, once again. Tyler Minnick and Brett Vondohlen had back-to-back RBI singles that scored Snider and Keaton Ray just before Matt Wolfe dropped a bunt to score Minnick and tie it up at 3-3.
UAB scored a pair of unearned runs in the 10th inning to win the first game 5-4. Middle Tennessee was able to get the tying run to first in Keaton Ray, who had an RBI single that knocked in Eston Snider, but UAB reliever Ryan Olson struck out the side to earn the win.
In game two, Middle Tennessee got on the board first in the bottom of the third inning on an RBI from Tyler Minnick to make it 1-0. Game two starter, Chandler Alderman, also did a good job of mixing pitches to keep UAB guessing. The sophomore went the distance in game two, tossing seven innings and allowed just one run with four strikeouts.
The Blazers tied it 1-1 in the fifth inning on a bloop single into right field, but the lead didn't last long. Blue Raider second baseman Clay Badylak doubled to deep right field on a ball that nearly left the yard and Eston Snider moved him to third prior to swiping second. With two outs, Minnick laced a ball through the left side for a pair of RBIs to make it 3-1.
After showing up to the park with a fresh shave, the junior had a big day, going 3-for-7 with four RBIs in both games to bring his season total to 17. Minnick also played at first base in the second game, making a good play to throw out a man on the on a weak ground ball to the right side.
Second baseman Clay Badylak had a great game two out of the nine-hole in the lineup with two doubles and two runs scored. Right fielder Brett Rogers had a pair of hits and a stolen base and center fielder Eston Snider extended his on-base streak to 15 games and also stole a base and scored a run in game two.
Blue Raider pitchers stranded 18 UAB base runners in both games.
By the Numbers
12.2: Innings that Drew Horn went without allowing a hit. Camden Hayslip broke the streak with a fourth-inning single in game one.
3: Double plays turned by the Blue Raider defense in game one, a new team-high. The Blue Raiders had five total and turned one in the bottom of the seventh to end game two.
15: Eston Snider's on-base streak following hits in both games, today.
18: Blazer base runners left stranded by MTSU pitching, today.
The Skipper Speaks (Jerry Meyers)
"This whole series was extremely competitive," said Middle Tennessee Head Coach Jerry Meyers. "After dropping the first game, we didn't get too down on ourselves and it was a great character building moment. Playing in extra innings in the first game, we didn't do quite enough and didn't capitalize on some things, but we really responded. Chandler Alderman was really locked in and was filling up the zone. He gave us enough opportunities. They had some good starters and it really felt like a conference weekend. They're a great team and we had to work hard to win the series."
Player Perspective (Tyler Minnick)
"After today, I think I'm going to keep the (clean shave) for a bit," Minnick chuckled. "The hair was getting a bit long and it was time for a mojo swap, and it worked out. I think the best thing about our team and lineup is that we are a complete one through nine. We have the confidence in each other that the next guy is going to pick you up. It was a situation where I was up to bat and next time, it might be someone else and we will have confidence in them. I have a lot of pride in (playing defense), especially behind the plate because we have so many great pitchers and anything I can do to help those guys is great because they do a lot for us and I want to do a lot for them. A lot of it comes from coach (Ryan) Huber. We've worked a lot on blocking balls and throwing guys out, so I owe him a lot, and it's a testament to the culture we have here.
Up Next
Middle Tennessee welcomes SEMO to Reese Smith Jr. Field for a mid-week tilt this Tuesday at 4:00 p.m. on ESPN+ and the Blue Raider Network.
Follow the Blue Raiders
Stay up to date with the Blue Raiders on Twitter (@MT_Baseball), Facebook (Blue Raider Baseball), and Instagram (@MT_Baseball).
Tyler Minnick, who caught game one and started at first base in game two, continued the roll he was on from Friday's game. Behind the plate, Minnick threw out his third would-be base stealer in game one and had a big two-RBI hit in game two to give the Blue Raiders a 3-1 lead and help them take the series.
Middle Tennessee starter Drew Horn allowed five base runners and a run to start game one but kept his no-hit streak alive until UAB right fielder Camden Hayslip poked a fly ball to left field, away from the shift. The former Siegel star struck out five and allowed just two earned runs in five innings.
Blazer starter Colin Daniel was just as good as advertised, allowing just three base runners through five-plus no-hit innings before the Blue Raiders broke through in the fifth inning.
Eston Snider reached base for the fifth time in seven at-bats to begin the inning, then the middle of the order struck, once again. Tyler Minnick and Brett Vondohlen had back-to-back RBI singles that scored Snider and Keaton Ray just before Matt Wolfe dropped a bunt to score Minnick and tie it up at 3-3.
UAB scored a pair of unearned runs in the 10th inning to win the first game 5-4. Middle Tennessee was able to get the tying run to first in Keaton Ray, who had an RBI single that knocked in Eston Snider, but UAB reliever Ryan Olson struck out the side to earn the win.
In game two, Middle Tennessee got on the board first in the bottom of the third inning on an RBI from Tyler Minnick to make it 1-0. Game two starter, Chandler Alderman, also did a good job of mixing pitches to keep UAB guessing. The sophomore went the distance in game two, tossing seven innings and allowed just one run with four strikeouts.
The Blazers tied it 1-1 in the fifth inning on a bloop single into right field, but the lead didn't last long. Blue Raider second baseman Clay Badylak doubled to deep right field on a ball that nearly left the yard and Eston Snider moved him to third prior to swiping second. With two outs, Minnick laced a ball through the left side for a pair of RBIs to make it 3-1.
After showing up to the park with a fresh shave, the junior had a big day, going 3-for-7 with four RBIs in both games to bring his season total to 17. Minnick also played at first base in the second game, making a good play to throw out a man on the on a weak ground ball to the right side.
Second baseman Clay Badylak had a great game two out of the nine-hole in the lineup with two doubles and two runs scored. Right fielder Brett Rogers had a pair of hits and a stolen base and center fielder Eston Snider extended his on-base streak to 15 games and also stole a base and scored a run in game two.
Blue Raider pitchers stranded 18 UAB base runners in both games.
By the Numbers
12.2: Innings that Drew Horn went without allowing a hit. Camden Hayslip broke the streak with a fourth-inning single in game one.
3: Double plays turned by the Blue Raider defense in game one, a new team-high. The Blue Raiders had five total and turned one in the bottom of the seventh to end game two.
15: Eston Snider's on-base streak following hits in both games, today.
18: Blazer base runners left stranded by MTSU pitching, today.
The Skipper Speaks (Jerry Meyers)
"This whole series was extremely competitive," said Middle Tennessee Head Coach Jerry Meyers. "After dropping the first game, we didn't get too down on ourselves and it was a great character building moment. Playing in extra innings in the first game, we didn't do quite enough and didn't capitalize on some things, but we really responded. Chandler Alderman was really locked in and was filling up the zone. He gave us enough opportunities. They had some good starters and it really felt like a conference weekend. They're a great team and we had to work hard to win the series."
Player Perspective (Tyler Minnick)
"After today, I think I'm going to keep the (clean shave) for a bit," Minnick chuckled. "The hair was getting a bit long and it was time for a mojo swap, and it worked out. I think the best thing about our team and lineup is that we are a complete one through nine. We have the confidence in each other that the next guy is going to pick you up. It was a situation where I was up to bat and next time, it might be someone else and we will have confidence in them. I have a lot of pride in (playing defense), especially behind the plate because we have so many great pitchers and anything I can do to help those guys is great because they do a lot for us and I want to do a lot for them. A lot of it comes from coach (Ryan) Huber. We've worked a lot on blocking balls and throwing guys out, so I owe him a lot, and it's a testament to the culture we have here.
Up Next
Middle Tennessee welcomes SEMO to Reese Smith Jr. Field for a mid-week tilt this Tuesday at 4:00 p.m. on ESPN+ and the Blue Raider Network.
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: Ryan Olson (3-1)
L: Jenkins, Will (1-2)
Batting:
RBI: Logan Braunschweig 1 ; Nick Hollifield 1 ; Tyler Waugh 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Gavin Lewis Jr 2 ; Tyler Waugh 1 ; Jax Yoxtheimer 1 ; Mayes White 1
PO: Jax Yoxtheimer 1
Batting:
2B: Snider, Eston 1 ; Rogers, Brett 1
RBI: Ray, Keaton 1 ; Minnick, Tyler 1 ; Vondohlen, Brett 1 ; Wolfe, Matt 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Snider, Eston 2 ; Ray, Keaton 1 ; Minnick, Tyler 1
SB: Snider, Eston 1
HBP: Minnick, Tyler 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
4
R
2
H
1
RBI
0
AB
4
R
1
H
1
RBI
1
AB
4
R
1
H
1
RBI
1
AB
5
R
0
H
1
RBI
1
Players Mentioned
LHP
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INF
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OF
/ Baseball
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INF/RHP
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INF
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