Middle Tennessee State University Athletics
Middle Tennessee
Illinois State
Middle Tennessee baseball to host Illinois State for weekend series
2/26/2026 3:00:00 PM | Baseball
Feb. 27- March 1, 2025 | Reese Smith Jr. Field | Murfreesboro, Tenn. |
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Illinois State Redbirds 6-2, 0-0 MVC |
at | Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders 6-2, 0-0 CUSA |
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MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - Blue Raider baseball is set to welcome the Illinois State Redbirds to Reese Smith Jr. Field for a three-game series to finish out February, and welcome in the month of March as college baseball hits full swing.
The Redbirds come to Murfreesboro with a 6-2 record, the program's best start since 2014. MTSU has matched this mark through eight games, with wins over Tennessee Tech, St. Bonaventure, Alabama A&M and Bellarmine.
Friday, Feb. 20
» Time/ Site 3 p.m. at The Reese
Middle Tennessee (6-2) vs. Illinois State (6-2)
Saturday, Feb. 21
» Time/ Site 1 p.m. at The Reese
Middle Tennessee (6-2) vs. Illinois State (6-2)
Sunday, Feb. 22
» Time/ Site 1 p.m. at The Reese
Last Five Games (Blue Raiders Trail 3-2)
Date Results Location
3.01.02 W, 6-5 Clarksville, Tenn.
4.04.99 L, 17-8 Murfreesboro, Tenn.
4.03.99 L, 9-2 Murfreesboro, Tenn.
4.02.99 L, 3-0 Murfreesboro, Tenn.
2.21.98 W, 7-6 Murfreesboro, Tenn.
Last Time Out: Middle Tennessee picked up its first win over Tennessee Tech since March 2023, in an eight-inning run-rule affair. Abel Albarran tossed 4.2 shutout innings in his first start as a Blue Raider, while first baseman Dean O'Neill picked up two home runs in consecutive at-bats for the Blue Raiders.
You Can Put It On The Board: In the win over TTU, the Blue Raider offense combined for three home runs. Dean O'Neill hit two over the wall in right field, while Brett Rogers lined one off the batter's eye in centerfield.
Burch Dealin': Right-handed swingman Landen Burch has jumped out to a strong start for the Blue Raiders. The 6-foot-4 senior leads Conference USA in hits allowed (2) and is top three in opposing batting average (.111). The senior is also the Blue Raiders' leader in wins, with two.
Willing and Abel: The Blue Raider staff combined for 8.0 innings of three-hit, one-run ball in the midweek win over TTU. Abel Albarran went 4.2 IP in the start, while Landen Burch earned the win with 1.1 IP after striking out the first hitter he saw to strand the bases loaded.
Landon Sexton, John Michael Pickens and Bryant Beranek also made appearances in the 11-1 victory.
Super Cooper: Redshirt junior second baseman Cooper Clapp had a strong week at the plate against St. Bonaventure and Alabama A&M. The Tennessee native hit .538 with a home run and 4 RBI, paired with a walkoff RBI double last Friday to beat SBU.
Two is The Magic Number: In the Blue Raiders two wins last weekend over St. Bonaventure, the pitching staff utilized only two pitchers in each game. Drew Horn and David Horn Jr earned the wins, while Landen Burch and Mason Dobbs came out of the bullpen to secure saves.
Thou Shall Not Pass: MTSU is currently leading Conference USA in team ERA with a 2.24 mark. The Blue Raider staff is outpacing the rest of the league by .60 in ERA.
Slotting right in: The Blue Raiders first year centerfielder Owen Nowak as jumped out in his first few outings donning blue.
Nowak is hitting .333/.581/.500 through seven games, and leads MTSU in runs scored with 11. The junior is also rocking a 1.081 OPS, the highest mark on the Blue Raiders.
Home Sweet Home: The Blue Raiders are home for the first 13 home games of the year. "The Reese" will host a total of 32 games throughout the 2026 season.
Meyers Back for Year Four: Head Coach Jerry Meyers is back for his fourth year at the helm. Meyers' interim tag was lifted after the 2023 season, and was extended as head baseball coach immediately.
Super 5-for-5 Bros.: Redshirt sophomore RF Brett Rogers and senior first baseman Dean O'Neill have set a precedent at the plate. with the pair going 5-for-5 in back-to-back games. Rogers accomplished the feat in the nightcap of a doubleheader against Bellarmine, while O'Neill did it on Feb. 17 against Alabama A&M.
Trace Phillips: Two-Way Superstar, Trace Phillips was signed as an undrafted free agent after the 2025 MLB Draft to the Tampa Bay Rays. The RHP/INF signed the second highest UDFA signing bonus in history for $629,200 which is the average slot value for the third round - pick 120 in the draft.
Conference Honors: Drew Horn was the lone Blue Raider named to the 2025 All-Conference USA Preseason team after striking out 57 hitters across 46.1 IP last season.
Senior Status: The Blue Raiders have 14 seniors on this year's roster including Tyler Minnick and newcomer Dean O'Neill. The duo will look to split time between catching and first base, while the two hit .271 and .302 in the batter's box.
New Bats Show Out: On opening day, first year Blue Raiders Owen Nowak and Dean O'Neill went back-to-back in the third inning, to put the Blue Raiders' offense in the driver's seat in a 8-2 win over Bellarmine.
Watch the Blue Raiders: Select MTSU home games will be on ESPN+ in 2026. Road game broadcasts are subject to the home team's broadcast protocals. WGNS will carry the team's radio broadcasts.
Follow the Blue Raiders: Stay up to date with the Blue Raiders on X (@MT_Baseball), Facebook (Blue Raider Baseball) and Instagram (@MT_Baseball).
