Softball splits day two of Blue Raider Classic

Saturday, February 28

Murfreesboro, Tenn.

11:00 AM

Middle Tennessee

8-9

UT Martin

10-7

UT Martin

Middle Tenn.

2/28/2026 7:00:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

By: Andie Dolven / MTSU Athletic Communications

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – Middle Tennessee Softball (8-10) split the second day of the Blue Raider Classic. The Blue Raiders defeated UT Martin (11-7) by a score of 7-4 and fell to Akron (6-13) by a score of 8-7.

Middle Tennessee started the day with a battle against UT Martin, both teams trading the lead four times in six and a half innings of play. Lucie McDonald kicked off the scoring for the Blue Raiders in the bottom of the third with a solo shot, Mady Pint and Kennedy Chatman bringing in three more runs to give Middle Tennessee a 4-2 lead. Adaeze Nwogbo and Jana Want both recorded RBIs in the fifth and sixth to seal the deal, securing the win for the Blue Raiders.

Halle Klaiber got the start in the circle against the Skyhawks, pitching two innings before Elle Hildreth entered the game to close it out. Hildreth did not give up an earned run and picked up the win, moving to 2-1 on the season.

Game two was a battle between the Blue Raiders and the Zips. Middle Tennessee struck first in the bottom of the first inning, Macie Harter stealing home to score for the Blue Raiders. Akron scored four in the top of the third inning, but Middle Tennessee responded with three of their own off the bats of Chatman, McDonald and Harter to tie the game back up. The Zips scored another in the top of the sixth, but the Blue Raiders quickly tied the game back up with a solo blast from Ansley Blevins.

Middle Tennessee headed to the plate in the bottom of the seventh in a three-run deficit. Pint found a way on base for Onnika Spencer to step up to the plate and deliver a two-run shot to bring the Blue Raiders within one run with just one out on the scoreboard. Ultimately Middle Tennessee could not bring another run to the plate, leaving two stranded in an attempt to keep the game alive and falling to Akron 8-7.

Mary Martinez, Braelyn Hall and Hildreth all pitched against the Zips, Martinez getting the start. Martinez and Hall each recorded three innings of work, Hildreth picking up the last three outs of the game. Hall recorded the only strikeout of the game for the Blue Raiders.

By the Numbers

0: Middle Tennessee did not give up a home run against UT Martin, keeping the Skyhawks in the yard during both games this weekend.
6: In her six innings of work in the circle today, Elle Hildreth did not walk a single batter.
7: The Blue Raiders have now turned a double play in seven consecutive games.

Up Next

Middle Tennessee heads to Kennesaw State to open Conference USA play against the Owls. The Blue Raiders will play a three-game series starting on Friday, March 6.

Keeping Up with the Blue Raiders

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