Middle Tennesee State University Athletics
Friday, March 28
Murfreesboro, Tenn.
6 p.m.
Middle Tennessee
14-11, 0
12
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8
FIU
17-10, 0
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FIU
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Middle Tennessee
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Photo by: JD Elliott/MTSU Athletic Communications
MTSU takes down FIU 12-8 behind Brewer's big night
3/28/2025 10:01:00 PM | Baseball
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. —When FIU (17-10, 2-2 CUSA) got to Reese Smith Jr Field Friday afternoon, they likely weren't thinking that the eight-hole hitter was going to be the difference maker that won Middle Tennessee (14-11, 2-2 CUSA) the series opener 12-8.
On a night when the Blue Raiders had eight extra-base hits, it was number eight, Nathan Brewer's, two home run, four RBI effort that led to three of the most important runs of the ballgame that the designated hitter scored in the win. For Brewer, it was his first career multi-home run effort, and the four RBIs were also a career high for the Eagleville High product, who finished 2-for-3 and also had an important walk that led to the first runs of the ballgame.
In the first inning, Clay Badylak smoked a curveball down the line in right to bring Eston Snider around to score from first to make it 1-0 at the end of one. The top of the Blue Raider lineup went right back to work in the second inning, with back-to-back two RBI doubles from Snider and Badylak to make it 5-0 Middle Tennessee after loading the bases to start the frame.
In the third inning, Brewer hit a three-run home run onto the football practice field, his fifth of the season, to blow the game open 8-0. The Blue Raiders scored again in the fifth on right-fielder Brett Rogers third hit of the evening, bringing in Matt Wolfe to make it 9-4. Wolfe, the MTSU shortstop, had also reached base three times to that point of the ballgame.
FIU put up a four-spot in the top of the fourth and Blue Raider starter, Trace Phillips, exited after 4.2 innings, striking out two. Phillips gave way to Ollie Akens, who tossed one inning out of the bullpen and was charged with three earned runs in his second win of the year. Will Jenkins came out of the bullpen with one out in the sixth and got FIU cleanup-man to bounce into a 4-6-3 double play to end the inning and help MTSU keep a 9-7 lead. Jenkins finished it out, tossing 3.2 innings for his second save of the season.
Middle Tennessee added three insurance runs in the sixth, seventh and eighth innings via a Tyler Minnick RBI double in the sixth, Nathan Brewer's second home run of the game in the seventh and Eston Snider's third run of the night, scored on an error, to put MTSU up 12-8 heading into the ninth.
Badylak finished 3-for-5 with two doubles and three RBIs and Snider went 3-for-4 with two doubles and three runs scored. Brett Rogers and Matt Wolfe also had multi-hit efforts, going 3-for-4 and 2-for-3, respectively, with Wolfe also hitting the trifecta in runs scored.
By the Numbers
20: Make it an even 20 games in a row in which Eston Snider has reached base following tonight's game.
8: Extra-base hits by the Blue Raiders tonight. MTSU had six doubles and two home runs.
36: Combined hits in the last two CUSA games for MTSU.
The Skipper Speaks (Jerry Meyers)
"We had some really good spurts there, getting up 8-0 early against a really good club, we knew that wasn't going to be the last punch," said Middle Tennessee Head Coach Jerry Meyers. "We had to be ready to continue to do what we were doing, offensively, scratching and tacking on some more when we needed it. We needed every bit of the energy and had some really key at-bats in some big moments. With (Nathan) Brewer, it wasn't necessarily the home runs, but that walk that extended the inning was a mature at-bat. Being able to get in good counts and get good swings off, hopefully that bodes well for us maintaining the consistency we're looking for."
Player Perspective (R-SO OF Nathan Brewer)
"With the second home run, I got a bit jammed but when I saw that it finally went out, it felt really good going around the bases," Brewer said. "I was seeing it well today and it felt good. I think tonight will help us go for another win tomorrow and have more confidence going into this next game. I was really trying to simplify everything, and it worked out for me."
Up Next
Game two of the series is scheduled for tomorrow at 3:00 p.m. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+ and can be heard on 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).
On a night when the Blue Raiders had eight extra-base hits, it was number eight, Nathan Brewer's, two home run, four RBI effort that led to three of the most important runs of the ballgame that the designated hitter scored in the win. For Brewer, it was his first career multi-home run effort, and the four RBIs were also a career high for the Eagleville High product, who finished 2-for-3 and also had an important walk that led to the first runs of the ballgame.
In the first inning, Clay Badylak smoked a curveball down the line in right to bring Eston Snider around to score from first to make it 1-0 at the end of one. The top of the Blue Raider lineup went right back to work in the second inning, with back-to-back two RBI doubles from Snider and Badylak to make it 5-0 Middle Tennessee after loading the bases to start the frame.
In the third inning, Brewer hit a three-run home run onto the football practice field, his fifth of the season, to blow the game open 8-0. The Blue Raiders scored again in the fifth on right-fielder Brett Rogers third hit of the evening, bringing in Matt Wolfe to make it 9-4. Wolfe, the MTSU shortstop, had also reached base three times to that point of the ballgame.
FIU put up a four-spot in the top of the fourth and Blue Raider starter, Trace Phillips, exited after 4.2 innings, striking out two. Phillips gave way to Ollie Akens, who tossed one inning out of the bullpen and was charged with three earned runs in his second win of the year. Will Jenkins came out of the bullpen with one out in the sixth and got FIU cleanup-man to bounce into a 4-6-3 double play to end the inning and help MTSU keep a 9-7 lead. Jenkins finished it out, tossing 3.2 innings for his second save of the season.
Middle Tennessee added three insurance runs in the sixth, seventh and eighth innings via a Tyler Minnick RBI double in the sixth, Nathan Brewer's second home run of the game in the seventh and Eston Snider's third run of the night, scored on an error, to put MTSU up 12-8 heading into the ninth.
Badylak finished 3-for-5 with two doubles and three RBIs and Snider went 3-for-4 with two doubles and three runs scored. Brett Rogers and Matt Wolfe also had multi-hit efforts, going 3-for-4 and 2-for-3, respectively, with Wolfe also hitting the trifecta in runs scored.
By the Numbers
20: Make it an even 20 games in a row in which Eston Snider has reached base following tonight's game.
8: Extra-base hits by the Blue Raiders tonight. MTSU had six doubles and two home runs.
36: Combined hits in the last two CUSA games for MTSU.
The Skipper Speaks (Jerry Meyers)
"We had some really good spurts there, getting up 8-0 early against a really good club, we knew that wasn't going to be the last punch," said Middle Tennessee Head Coach Jerry Meyers. "We had to be ready to continue to do what we were doing, offensively, scratching and tacking on some more when we needed it. We needed every bit of the energy and had some really key at-bats in some big moments. With (Nathan) Brewer, it wasn't necessarily the home runs, but that walk that extended the inning was a mature at-bat. Being able to get in good counts and get good swings off, hopefully that bodes well for us maintaining the consistency we're looking for."
Player Perspective (R-SO OF Nathan Brewer)
"With the second home run, I got a bit jammed but when I saw that it finally went out, it felt really good going around the bases," Brewer said. "I was seeing it well today and it felt good. I think tonight will help us go for another win tomorrow and have more confidence going into this next game. I was really trying to simplify everything, and it worked out for me."
Up Next
Game two of the series is scheduled for tomorrow at 3:00 p.m. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+ and can be heard on 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: Akens, Ollie (2-0)
L: Easton MARKS (2-1)
S: Jenkins, Will (2)
Batting:
2B: Alex ULLOA 1 ; Hector CANDELAS 1
RBI: Alex ULLOA 3 ; Brylan WEST 1 ; Nelson RIVERA FLORES 2 ; Austin DEARING 1 ; Samuel FISCHER 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Brylan WEST 1 ; Andrew ILDEFONSO 1 ; Hector CANDELAS 1 ; Nelson RIVERA FLORES 1 ; Austin DEARING 1 ; Samuel FISCHER 1 ; Kareh VALENTIN 2
HBP: Kishon FRETT 2 ; Brylan WEST 1
PO: Alex ULLOA 1
Batting:
2B: Snider, Eston 2 ; Badylak, Clay 2 ; Minnick, Tyler 1 ; Wolfe, Matt 1
HR: Brewer, Nathan 2
RBI: Snider, Eston 2 ; Badylak, Clay 3 ; Minnick, Tyler 1 ; Rogers, Brett 1 ; Brewer, Nathan 4
SH: Snider, Eston 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Snider, Eston 3 ; Wolfe, Matt 3 ; Rogers, Brett 2 ; Brewer, Nathan 3 ; Clapp, Cooper 1
PO: Rogers, Brett 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
4
R
3
H
3
RBI
2
AB
5
R
0
H
3
RBI
3
AB
4
R
2
H
3
RBI
1
AB
3
R
3
H
2
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
RHP
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INF
/ Baseball
OF
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
C
/ Baseball
INF/RHP
/ Baseball
OF
/ Baseball
OF
/ BaseballINF
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