Middle Tennessee State University Athletics
Sunday, October 18
Cookeville, Tenn.
1 p.m.
Middle Tennessee
17
at
6
Tennessee Tech
5 home runs lead way as Blue Raiders take down Tennessee Tech
10/18/2026 10:09:00 PM | Baseball
COOKEVILLE, Tenn.- Middle Tennessee baseball capped off its fall ball exhibition slate in a 17-6 rout of Tennessee Tech, headlined by five Blue Raider home runs.
The Blue Raider bats were active early and often against the Golden Eagles, as senior infielder Brooks Craigue put the boys in blue out in front on the second pitch of the game with a solo home run.
MTSU's offensive flurry continued through the early innings in Cookeville, Tennessee, as fifth-year infielder Brett Vondohlen showcased his power and graduate outfielder Keaton Ray joined the home run parade with a two-run home run.
Ray's two-run shot was the start of a big day for the powerful lefty, as the Evensville, Tennessee native went 3-for-4 with the home run and a double to stand out amongst the Blue Raider bats.
Matt DeShiro and Jaxon Walker contributed to the longball tally as well, joining Craigue in the trio of newcomers to take a jog around the bases in the big win.
Middle Tennessee's arms were stingy throughout the 16-inning matchup as well, paring for a perfect storm with the production from the offense.
Fifth-year lefty Cole Torbett got the nod for the start on the hill, and carved out two shutout innings of Tennessee Tech to get things flowing for MTSU. Fellow left-hander, senior Walker Shaw had a strong and scoreless fourth inning, including two punchouts.
A handful of right-handers were mixed in throughout the Blue Raider staff and showed to be effective as well. Junior college transfer Braden Suggs also had a solid appearance early in the ballgame, keeping the Golden Eagles offense from taking flight, while Clay Gadbois and Jonny Stevens put zeroes on the board for their outings as well.
The Blue Raiders came out on top of the first eight innings up 12-1, while the final eight innings from Quillen Field in Cookeville finished at 5-5.
The Skipper Speaks (Head Coach Jerry Meyers)
"I'm proud of the [team's] effort and where we're at," Head Coach Jerry Meyers said. "I think we're way ahead of where we were. We are making strides from where we were three weeks ago, four weeks ago. I just told the guys our goal is to be better two weeks from now and three months from now, and continue to get better. We did some nice things today."
Player Perspective (Keaton Ray)
"It feels good to have days like this man," graduate outfielder Keaton Ray said. "All of my past years and injuries and things have led to this year, and I think all those misfortunes are going to be something that I look back on and help me a lot this year."
Player Perspective (Walker Shaw)
"When you get in late to the fall, you've got to make sure you're focused at all times," senior left-hander Walker Shaw said. "Today, that was the key for me was to not let anything get to me and stay focused out there… I was like, I have to make this inning my best, and just fill up the zone and get ahead."
Up next: Blue Raider baseball will be hosting the John Stanford Grand Slam Social next Friday, October 23. For more information on the event and how to support the Blue Raiders, click here.
Follow the Blue Raiders: Stay up to date with the Blue Raiders on X (@MT_Baseball), Facebook (Blue Raider Baseball) and Instagram (@MT_Baseball).
The Blue Raider bats were active early and often against the Golden Eagles, as senior infielder Brooks Craigue put the boys in blue out in front on the second pitch of the game with a solo home run.
MTSU's offensive flurry continued through the early innings in Cookeville, Tennessee, as fifth-year infielder Brett Vondohlen showcased his power and graduate outfielder Keaton Ray joined the home run parade with a two-run home run.
Ray's two-run shot was the start of a big day for the powerful lefty, as the Evensville, Tennessee native went 3-for-4 with the home run and a double to stand out amongst the Blue Raider bats.
Matt DeShiro and Jaxon Walker contributed to the longball tally as well, joining Craigue in the trio of newcomers to take a jog around the bases in the big win.
Middle Tennessee's arms were stingy throughout the 16-inning matchup as well, paring for a perfect storm with the production from the offense.
Fifth-year lefty Cole Torbett got the nod for the start on the hill, and carved out two shutout innings of Tennessee Tech to get things flowing for MTSU. Fellow left-hander, senior Walker Shaw had a strong and scoreless fourth inning, including two punchouts.
A handful of right-handers were mixed in throughout the Blue Raider staff and showed to be effective as well. Junior college transfer Braden Suggs also had a solid appearance early in the ballgame, keeping the Golden Eagles offense from taking flight, while Clay Gadbois and Jonny Stevens put zeroes on the board for their outings as well.
The Blue Raiders came out on top of the first eight innings up 12-1, while the final eight innings from Quillen Field in Cookeville finished at 5-5.
The Skipper Speaks (Head Coach Jerry Meyers)
"I'm proud of the [team's] effort and where we're at," Head Coach Jerry Meyers said. "I think we're way ahead of where we were. We are making strides from where we were three weeks ago, four weeks ago. I just told the guys our goal is to be better two weeks from now and three months from now, and continue to get better. We did some nice things today."
Player Perspective (Keaton Ray)
"It feels good to have days like this man," graduate outfielder Keaton Ray said. "All of my past years and injuries and things have led to this year, and I think all those misfortunes are going to be something that I look back on and help me a lot this year."
Player Perspective (Walker Shaw)
"When you get in late to the fall, you've got to make sure you're focused at all times," senior left-hander Walker Shaw said. "Today, that was the key for me was to not let anything get to me and stay focused out there… I was like, I have to make this inning my best, and just fill up the zone and get ahead."
Up next: Blue Raider baseball will be hosting the John Stanford Grand Slam Social next Friday, October 23. For more information on the event and how to support the Blue Raiders, click here.
Follow the Blue Raiders: Stay up to date with the Blue Raiders on X (@MT_Baseball), Facebook (Blue Raider Baseball) and Instagram (@MT_Baseball).
Players Mentioned
OF
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LHP
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RHP
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