Middle Tennesee State University Athletics

MTSU baseball falls short in road battle at Cookeville
5/14/2025 1:36:00 AM | Baseball
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. - Middle Tennessee baseball dropped 5–2 on the road Tuesday night in a non-conference matchup against Tennessee Tech at Bush Stadium. Despite a strong defensive effort and moments of offensive promise, the Blue Raiders were unable to complete the comeback after a fourth-inning surge.
MTSU was held hitless through the first three innings but broke through in the fourth. After back-to-back baserunners reached safely, outfielder Keaton Ray delivered a clutch two-out single that plated both runs, briefly narrowing the deficit to one.
A storm rolled through and delayed the game for just under two hours. When resumed, it entered the top of the fifth.
The Blue Raiders' bullpen was heavily utilized, with six different pitchers seeing action. The staff combined for six strikeouts but was challenged by 12 hits from the home team, including a pair of home runs and a key insurance run in the sixth inning.
MTSU had opportunities to add to its run total, but baserunning miscues, including two caught stealings, stalled momentum. The offense was led by Brett Vondohlen, who collected two of the team's five hits on the night.
Despite the loss, the Blue Raiders played error-free baseball and showed resilience, particularly after a lengthy weather delay in the fifth inning.
By the numbers
0 – The Blue Raiders had 0 errors in the matchup today
36 – Eston Snider earned his 36th career hit-by-pitch, which makes him one away from the program record held by Rawley Bishop
5 - Eston Snider was SportsCenter's #5 play on the top 10 with his home run robbery
Up next
Middle Tennessee will hit the road south to Atlanta to face Kennesaw State starting Thursday, May 15th at 5 p.m. CT
Follow the Blue Raiders
Stay up to date with the Blue Raiders on X (@MT_Baseball), Facebook (Blue Raider Baseball), and Instagram (@MT_Baseball).
MTSU was held hitless through the first three innings but broke through in the fourth. After back-to-back baserunners reached safely, outfielder Keaton Ray delivered a clutch two-out single that plated both runs, briefly narrowing the deficit to one.
A storm rolled through and delayed the game for just under two hours. When resumed, it entered the top of the fifth.
The Blue Raiders' bullpen was heavily utilized, with six different pitchers seeing action. The staff combined for six strikeouts but was challenged by 12 hits from the home team, including a pair of home runs and a key insurance run in the sixth inning.
MTSU had opportunities to add to its run total, but baserunning miscues, including two caught stealings, stalled momentum. The offense was led by Brett Vondohlen, who collected two of the team's five hits on the night.
Despite the loss, the Blue Raiders played error-free baseball and showed resilience, particularly after a lengthy weather delay in the fifth inning.
By the numbers
0 – The Blue Raiders had 0 errors in the matchup today
36 – Eston Snider earned his 36th career hit-by-pitch, which makes him one away from the program record held by Rawley Bishop
5 - Eston Snider was SportsCenter's #5 play on the top 10 with his home run robbery
Up next
Middle Tennessee will hit the road south to Atlanta to face Kennesaw State starting Thursday, May 15th at 5 p.m. CT
Follow the Blue Raiders
Stay up to date with the Blue Raiders on X (@MT_Baseball), Facebook (Blue Raider Baseball), and Instagram (@MT_Baseball).
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: VEGA, Lucas (6-1)
L: Driver, Matthew (0-1)
S: HOLPUCH, Garrett (1)

Batting:
RBI: Ray, Keaton 2
SH: Junnila, Jaxon 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Minnick, Tyler 1 ; Badylak, Clay 1
CS: Vondohlen, Brett 1 ; Ray, Keaton 1
HBP: Snider, Eston 1

Batting:
2B: LEE, Ryan 1
HR: SMELSER, Landon 1 ; STEELE, Preston 1
RBI: SMELSER, Landon 1 ; WHITCOMB, Mack 1 ; GREEN, Jackson 1 ; STEELE, Preston 2
SH: GREEN, Jackson 1
Base Running:
RUNS: SMELSER, Landon 1 ; WHITCOMB, Mack 1 ; LEE, Ryan 1 ; STEELE, Preston 1 ; LEE, Owen 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
Players Mentioned
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