Middle Tennesee State University Athletics
Middle Tennessee
Sam Houston
MTSU Baseball hosts Sam Houston in final home series of season
5/8/2025 5:00:00 PM | Baseball
May 9-11, 2025 | Reese Smith Jr Field | Murfreesboro, Tenn. |
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Sam Houston Bearkats 12-36, 6-15 CUSA |
at | Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders 20-28, 5-16 CUSA |
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MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - MTSU baseball set to host the Sam Houston Bearkats in the final home stand of the season this weekend at The Reese starting on Friday at 6 p.m. This series will have a huge impact on the Conference USA Tournament picture as both teams are fighting for a bid.
Friday, May 9
» Time / Site 6 p.m. at The Reese
Live Stats
Radio
ESPN+
Middle Tennessee (20-28) vs. Sam Houston (12-36)
Saturday, May 10
» Time / Site 3 p.m. at The Reese
Live Stats
Radio
ESPN+
Middle Tennessee (20-28) vs. Sam Houston (12-36)
Sunday, May 11
» Time / Site 1 p.m. at The Reese
Live Stats
Radio
ESPN+
All-Time Against Sam Houston
» This marks the 5th meeting in series history between Middle Tennessee and Sam Houston
» MTSU trails the all time series 0-4.
» This is the Bearkats first ever trip to Murfreesboro.
Down Goes #9: 'Dores: MTSU pulled off a major upset Tuesday night in Nashville, beating No. 9 Vanderbilt for the first time since 2018. The Commodores, fresh off a sweep of #5 Georgia and unbeaten in midweek games, fell 5–3 to the Blue Raiders. Eston Snider set the tone early with a lead-off homer, his fourth of the year. Starter Bryant Beranek tossed four strong innings, giving up just one run on two hits. Cole Torbett and Ethan Imbimbo shut the door out of the bullpen in the final five frames. Also, former Commodore Matt Wolfe starred in his return to Hawkins Field, going 2-for-3 with two runs scored to help MTSU seal the upset.
Taking Down the Tops: Middle Tennessee handed rival #20 Western Kentucky their first loss at home in the 2025 season on Friday, April 18 in Bowling Green. RHP Drew Horn shutdown the high powered WKU offense while the bats came alive to score 10 runs against the nation's leader in team ERA.
CG Alderman: Left-hander Chandler Alderman allowed just two earned runs in a complete game to lead Middle Tennessee to a 4-3 win against Louisiana Tech on Sunday, April 13. The big lefty struck out a season-high 10 batters, including two in a row in the ninth inning to end his afternoon at an even 130 pitches. Alderman sat nine of the last 10 Louisiana Tech hitters down and didn't allow a hit after the fifth inning.
The 200 Club: Senior outfielder Eston Snider hit his 200 career base knock for the huge milestone. The Franklin, Tennessee native has been a four-year starter in the outfield for the Blue Raiders, and has become one of the premiere lead-off hitters in the country.
100-Burger: Left-handed pitcher Chandler Alderman used a 10 strikeout performance against LA Tech April 13 to achieve 100 strikeouts in his young Blue Raider career. The Sophomore is at 34 this season, which added to his team leading 74 strikeouts a season ago.
Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood: Redshirt freshman Brett Rogers had a huge day against the Libscomb Bisons on April 1, 2025. At the plate, he went 5-for-5 with a homer, double, and three singles to be etched in the Blue Raider record book being tied for second with five hits in a single game. He also recorded an outfield assist from right field to hose a guy out at home trying to go from second on a single.
Barry 'Vonds': Brett Vondohlen is tied for eleventh in the country in home runs. The redshirt sophomore has hit 12 bombs this year to put him at pace to be in the MTSU record books at the end of the season.
Down Goes #15: For the third year in a row, MTSU grabbed a game against ranked Conference USA foe, Dallas Baptist. After dropping the first two games of the set, the Raiders bounced back with 20 hits, scoring 12 runs to avoid the sweep in the first CUSA series of the 2025 season. The 20 hits were a season high for both MTSU offensively, and the most DBU has given up all season.
Conference USA Honors: For the first time in program history, each player in the starting weekend rotation has won Conference USA Pitcher of the Week. Trace Phillips led off the run, winning the award in week two behind his six scoreless innings, while striking out a career high nine batters. Drew Horn followed suit by throwing the fifth no-hitter in MTSU history earning him the honor. LHP Chandler Alderman rounded out the starters by throwing a seven-inning complete-game over the UAB Blazers.
Dragon Slayers: MTSU downed the UAB Blazers at home in a three-game set on March 14-16. Middle Tennessee came back from a 7-0 deficit in the second inning, scoring nine run unanswered to take game one. After a rain-out on Saturday, the teams played in a double header on Sunday. In the first game of the day, AAC Preseason Pitcher of the Week, went five hitless innings before giving up three runs in the sixth to tie the game at three and send into extra innings where UAB would win in the 10th. MTSU would grab the seven inning victory in game three 3-1 behind a complete game win for LHP Chandler Alderman which earned him Conference USA Pitcher of the Week.
Drew's No-No: Redshirt sophomore Drew Horn was marvelous in his no-hitter vs Oakland on March 9th. He threw just the fifth no-no in MTSU history and just the second nine inning complete game no-hitter in MTSU history. He struck out 13 batters, while walking two to take home CUSA, College Baseball Hall of Fame, and TSWA Pitcher of the Week for his dominant performance.
Oh, How 'Sweep' It Is: MTSU swept the Oakland Golden Grizzlies in a three game set in March. The Blue Raiders took control in game one to win 8-4. In game two, Jaxon Junnila shot a single up the middle to win in the 11th inning on a walk-off. In game three, RHP Drew Horn threw a no-hitter to sweep the Golden Grizzlies.
Leadoff Power: The four-year starting outfielder, Eston Snider, continued his hot start at the plate with added power this weekend. Not only did Snider record a homerun in each of the three games of the FDU series, he led off game one with a shot to left field and also slugged his first career grand slam to lead the Blue Raiders to a 10-0 run-rule victory on Saturday, Feb. 22. One of the country's top lead-off hitters, Snider finished the weekend 6-for-9 at the plate with eight RBIs, three walks, two stolen bases, and five runs scored. He ended the weekend with 15 total bases and a whopping 1.667 slugging percentage, with half of his hits coming from long balls. He was awarded the Tennessee Sports Writers Association Player of the Week.Power Transfers: Tyler Minnick and Matt Wolfe have been great additions to the MTSU team. The Georgia Tech transfer Minnick, has already become the leader behind the plate. He is second on the team in batting average, OPS, and SLG% with a .419, 1.159 and .645.
The former Vandy Boy, Wolfe, has taken on the starting spot in the six hole for the Blue Crew. He is batting a solid .345 average with the second most doubles on the team with two.
Rogers Loves Wendys: R-Fr Brett Rogers went 4-for-4 on Feb. 25 against Austin Peay. The speedy right-fielder slashed two doubles and two singles en route to his three RBI day.
Sticks: Infielder Clay "Sticks" Badylak has emerged as one of the best hitters on the team this season. Coming off of a sub-par 2024 campaign at shortstop, Badylak made the move to second base after Opening Day starter Cooper Clapp broke a bone in his hand in game two of the season. He's batting .385 on the year with a triple and nine RBIs coming primarily in the nine hole.
Shut Down Rotation: The weekend starting rotation consisting of Trace Phillips, Chandler Alderman, and Drew Horn have locked down the first two series of the year on the mound combining for a 0.83 ERA, 43 Ks, 20 H, and 32.2 IP.
Pitcher of the Week: Phillips earned Conference USA Pitcher of the Week honors with his performance over the FDU Knights. He threw for six innings, striking out a career high nine batters while not giving up a run, keeping his season ERA at 0.00 with 12 innings thrown.
Opening Dominance: In the 2025 season opener against the Bowling Green Falcons, Middle Tennessee dominated in all aspects taking the victory, 18-0. Trace Phillips took the win on the bump after throwing six shutout innings, striking out eight batters, and just allowing four hits and a walk. RHP Landen Burch came in for the three inning save, allowing just one hit and striking out five Falcon hitters. On the other side of the frame, The offense lit up the scoreboard for 18 runs, which is the most the Blue Raiders have had under head coach Jerry Meyers.
Blue Raider Debuts: Each of the 13 transfers that came to the 'Boro saw action in the first weekend of the year. Vanderbilt transfer Matt Wolfe showed off his talents hitting for a .545 avg, with four runs scored and four walks. Catcher Tyler Minnick was not far behind with using a .455 avg to score twice, and hitting a two-run shot in the second game of the double header against BGSU. On the mound, Drew Horn took the bump, throwing for six innings of one run ball, allowing just two hits and a walk.
