Badylak’s five-RBI day lead Middle Tennessee to 13-3 win to sweep Sam Houston on Senior Day

Sunday, May 11

Murfreesboro, Tenn.

11 a.m.

Middle Tennessee

23-28, 0

Sam Houston

12-39, 0

Sam Houston

Middle Tennessee

Photo by: JD Elliott/MTSU Athletic Communications

5/11/2025 2:10:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

By: Anthony Fiorella | Athletic Communications

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. —Middle Tennessee (23-28, 8-16 CUSA) did exactly what it needed to do this weekend against visiting Sam Houston (12-39, 6-18 CUSA), keeping a consistent offensive approach to complete the sweep in a 13-3 win on senior day. The Blue Raiders celebrated the careers of Eston Snider, Will Jenkins, Jalen Wirtz and Ethan Imbimbo. Middle Tennessee shortstop Cooper Clapp walked it off with a two-RBI double in the bottom of the seventh inning, scoring Cale Vinson and Hayden Miller.

It didn't take long for fans to have one of their last vintage Snider experiences, as the speedy centerfielder stretched what would be a hit that'd be a single for most players into a double on a ball cutoff by Sam Houston centerfielder Parker Blackman in medium left-center. The hit sparked a three-run first inning for the Blue Raiders as Brett Rogers and Clay Badylak collected RBIs two and three on the weekend. Brett Vondohlen also came across to score in the inning to make it 3-0 going into the second.

Sam Houston got a pair of runs in the second on a two-RBI double from catcher Easton Dean and Middle Tennessee got one of those runs back on Badylak's second RBI of the game in the third inning to make it 4-2 heading into the fourth.

The Blue Raiders batted around and plated five runs in the fifth inning to break the score open at 9-2. Tyler Minnick, Brett Vondohlen and Cale Vinson all had RBI singles in the inning and both Snider and Rogers joined Minnick by scoring their second runs of the game to that point. Vondohlen and Clay Badylak also scored in the inning.

Will Jenkins got the start for Middle Tennessee in his final appearance at Reese Smith Junior field and had his second quality start of the year, going 5.1 innings, giving up just three earned runs. Jenkins has shifted from one of the more reliable back-end arms and has slotted into the weekend rotation and been competitive.

Right-hander Ollie Akens entered the game in the sixth inning with the bases loaded and one out and limited the Bearkats to just one run, holding the Blue Raider lead at 9-3. Clay Badylak hit his career-high with five RBIs when he hit his first career home run in the bottom of the sixth to increase the Middle Tennessee lead to 11-3. Badylak, also a senior, does have eligibility remaining and capped off one of the better turnaround years in recent memory with a 2-for-3, five RBI performance. The Cincinnati native also scored two runs in the game.

Cale Vinson, who started at second base, had his best performance of the year, going 2-for-4 with a double, RBI and a run scored. Brett Vondohlen finished 3-for-4 with an RBI and three runs scored.

Tyler Minnick and Clay Badylak capped off big weeks. Minnick went 8-for-16 with 7 RBIs, two doubles, two home runs, seven RBIs and was hit by a pitch and Badylak went 6-for-15 with seven RBIs, a double, a home run, a stolen base and a walk.

By the Numbers

12: Middle Tennessee had 12 or more hits in each game this series.

1: Cale Vinson had his first double of the year today and Clay Badylak had his first career home run.

5: Clay Badylak collected a career-high five RBIs today.

The Skipper Speaks (Jerry Meyers)

"Two of our seniors transferred in and Eston (Snider) has been the mainstay and got here when I did back when I was the pitching coach and (Jalen) Wirtz has been here a while," said Middle Tennessee Head Coach Jerry Meyers. "These guys are all high character individuals. Ethan Imbimbo came in here as a grad-transfer and earned his second masters degree and helped us a lot only being in the program one year. Will (Jenkins) gutted it out today and gave us more than we could've asked for today. Against DBU when we really needed a win, he gave us probably his best outing. He'll empty the tank out here you and did a good job of focusing today. (Cale Vinson) deserves some notoriety for his (good game) because of how he carries himself every other day when he hasn't played. He played a lot last year and has handled this year extremely well. He's stayed ready and had a positive attitude. What an awesome kid and I'm glad he's on our team. He stepped up today and made a lot of good plays, defensively, too."

Player Perspective(SR IF Clay Badylak)
"(The home run) was kind of the cherry on top and the last thing I was looking to get this year," Badylak said. "To do it today on senior day and mother's day with my parents here was pretty special. (Coach Jerry) Meyers talked about playing our best baseball toward the end of the year and I think we did that this weekend. We just have to build off this and carry it into next week. We're playing for our season the rest of the way and the team has responded well."

Up Next
Middle Tennessee's final midweek game of the year is set for Tuesday on the road at Tennessee Tech. First pitch is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. The game will be broadcast on both ESPN+ and the Blue Raider Network.

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