Blue Raiders use big innings to defeat No. 15 ranked Dallas Baptist in series finale

Sunday, March 23

Dallas, TX

1 p.m.

Middle Tennessee

13-10, 1-2

Dallas Baptist

16-7, 2-1

MTSU

DBU

3/23/2025 7:03:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

By: Jayce Standridge, MTSU Athletic Communications

Dallas, Texas — Middle Tennessee baseball got the bats going early, and was backed by great pitching to take down No. 15 ranked Dallas Baptist, 12-6 on Sunday.

Middle Tennessee (13-10) got off to a hot start at the plate with two singles ripped by Clay Badylak and Tyler Minnick, but they were left stranded in the first.

MTSU's RHP Drew Horn was a gametime decision on whether he would start, but was confirmed he would miss his start and replaced by Will Jenkins who had a phenomenal day on the bump. The redshirt-senior quickly got the first three batters of the Patriots lineup out before the big second inning for the Raiders.

The offense came alive in the top of the frame as MTSU would score four on six hits. Hayden Miller (who made his first start in right field) led off the inning with a double that was drilled fair down the left field line. Matt Wolfe would follow with a single of his own, then Keaton Ray would put his name in the stat sheet with an RBI single to take the first lead of the game and the series. Cooper Clapp sacrificed himself with a bunt to advance the runners to second and third with just one out. After a DBU mound visit, Badylak would strike again with his second single of the game. This time scoring two Raiders to move the score to 4-0.

DBU (16-7) would put up a fight in the second as well, by scoring a run on a solo shot to right field to put it within three. The Patriots would get some baserunners following the homer, but Eston Snider had other plans for them. The speedy second baseman for DBU reached on a walk, but was gunned out by Snider when trying to advance to third on a single to center field, as MTSU would get out of the inning only giving up one run to make the score 4-1.

In the third, DBU would put two more runs on the board with three consecutive singles before Jenkins earned his first strikeout of the day to limit the damage and keep the lead, 4-3.
As the fourth inning rolled around, MTSU would get two hits but couldn't bring them around to score. DBU on the other hand was three up, three down as the game would head to the fifth.
In the sixth inning, MTSU's offense once again came alive by scoring six runs on five hits to gain a huge lead on the 15th team in the country. Brett Vondohlen led off with a single, which was followed by Kenny McKinley getting hit-by-pitch. Miller beat out a potential double-play ball to have runners on the corners and one out. Wolfe would come up next and drop a bunt down for a hit to score Vondohlen from third. Keaton Ray would also beat out a potential double-play ball to once again have runners on the corners for Clapp and Snider who each hit singles which gained an RBI for each of them. DBU would go to the bullpen once again, but that didn't stop Tyler Minnick as he hit a two RBI single to left-center. He would put on a designed caught stealing to score the runner from third to make the score 10-3 heading into the bottom of the fifth.

DBU would ground into their second double play of the game to keep the score the same until the eighth inning.

MTSU would keep the offense moving by scoring two in the eighth to move the lead to nine runs.

DBU put up three runs in the bottom of the frame, but that wasn't enough as MTSU took down No. 15 Dallas Baptist 12-6 on Sunday afternoon in Dallas.

The pitching for the Blue Raiders picked up in a huge way for Horn. Will Jenkins would end his day with six innings pitched, allowing seven hits and just three runs to earn his second win of the season.

Ollie Akens came in the game in the seventh and would close it out for the Blue Raiders as he would earn his first save of the season with three innings pitched, striking out two and allowing just one walk.

By the Numbers
20: MTSU put up 20 hits on the day, which is the most the Blue Raiders have hit this season. It also is the most hits given up by the Patriots all season.
7,8, & 9: The bottom three in the lineup combined for a huge day to propel the Blue Raiders to victory. Matt Wolfe went 3-for-3 with an RBI, and two walks. Keaton Ray had three hits, with three runs scored and two RBIs. In the nine hole, Cooper Clapp had two hits with an RBI and a sac bunt.

Up Next
MTSU will continue on the road to face the SEMO Redhawks on Tuesday, March 25. First pitch is scheduled for 4 p.m.
Follow the Blue Raiders
Stay up to date with the Blue Raiders on Twitter (@MT_Baseball), Facebook (Blue Raider Baseball), and Instagram (@MT_Baseball).