Middle Tennessee State University Athletics
Tuesday, March 10
Murfreesboro, Tenn.
4 p.m.
Middle Tennessee
10-7
17
vs
0
EKU
5-12
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
R
H
E
Eastern Ky.
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
4
3
Middle Tenn.
1
5
0
3
8
0
X
17
15
1
Blue Raiders 17-run win fueled by Minnick's 3 doubles and Beranek's strong outing
3/10/2026 8:24:00 PM | Baseball
Middle Tennessee baseball (10-7) righted the ship in a 17-0 win over Eastern Kentucky (5-12) behind a historic performance from first baseman Tyler Minnick.
A native of Smyrna, Georgia, Minnick became the first Blue Raider since 2016 to notch three doubles in a game. Overall, Minnick went 3-of-4 from the dish with four RBI while scoring three times to pair with his trio of two-baggers.
While Middle Tennessee made tons of noise in the batter's box, the production the Blue Raiders received on the mound set the tone for Tuesday night's victory.
Senior right-hander Bryant Beranek earned the starting nod for the first time this season, and turned in one of his best performances as a Blue Raider. The 6-foot-3 right-hander tossed 4.1 IP for the Blue Raiders, striking out four Colonel hitters while walking none. EKU only tacked three hits on Beranek's line.
Following Beranek out of the bullpen, Landon Sexton (W, 1-1) worked out of the lone jam that EKU's offense pushed against the Blue Raiders. The Colonels loaded the bases with two outs after Sexton walked shortstop Pedro Moreno, but squandered the opportunity after Sexton slammed the door with a strikeout.
Mason Dobbs and Jack Fortner each threw a scoreless inning to get the Blue Raiders to the finish line, securing the team's second win by 17 this season.
With the four pitchers dominating on the bump, the Blue Raiders hitters did their best to out do them with the team's second highest run output this season.
Minnick got things going in the first inning with his first double, scoring leadoff man Owen Nowak.
The Blue Raiders then put up a five-spot in the second inning. Clay Badylak drove in two with an opposite field double down the left field line, with Brett Rogers, Nowak and Minnick each adding an RBI as well.
MTSU added three more in the fourth, with Cooper Clapp driving in a pair on a double. Minnick came around to score after EKU's Jackson Cauthron overthrew a toss to first base on a chopper hit by Rogers.
The offense delivered the final blow in the eighth inning, with an eight run frame. Minnick, Rogers, Layne Akers and Nathan Brewer all picked up RBIs, while Brett Vondohlen scored on a balk and Minnick scored on a wild pitch. Akers made it 17-0 after EKU's Tyler Phillips sailed a throw on a back pick to third base.
Middle Tennessee's 17-run win breaks the squad's four-game skid at a crossroads for the Blue Raiders, with Conference USA play on the horizon.
By the Numbers
2016: 2016 was the last time a Blue Raider notched three doubles in a game. Austin Dennis accomplished the feat on April 16, 2016 against Charlotte.
4.1: Bryant Beranek's 4.1 inning outing was the second-longest of his career, trailing the 5.0 inning mark. Beranek went 5.0 innings twice in his freshman season.
247: Tonight's win was the 247th of head coach Jerry Meyers' career.
The Skipper Speaks (Jerry Meyers)
"Today was real important to get us back," Meyers said. "It's not about feeling good or dwelling on an overall weekend…but to have a strike thrower that would allow us to play defense behind him that has good enough stuff and has enough experience. Bryant Beranek did that very well tonight."
Player Perspective (Tyler Minnick)
"I had no idea that I was the first guy to do that since 2016," Minnick said. "It's obviously a great thing. It feels good to get those accomplishments, but it's not really something I'm trying to focus on too much, especially with conference play this weekend."
Next up
The Blue Raiders will host Kennesaw State (7-6) to begin the CUSA slate. Game one is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. CT on Friday inside The Reese.
A native of Smyrna, Georgia, Minnick became the first Blue Raider since 2016 to notch three doubles in a game. Overall, Minnick went 3-of-4 from the dish with four RBI while scoring three times to pair with his trio of two-baggers.
While Middle Tennessee made tons of noise in the batter's box, the production the Blue Raiders received on the mound set the tone for Tuesday night's victory.
Senior right-hander Bryant Beranek earned the starting nod for the first time this season, and turned in one of his best performances as a Blue Raider. The 6-foot-3 right-hander tossed 4.1 IP for the Blue Raiders, striking out four Colonel hitters while walking none. EKU only tacked three hits on Beranek's line.
Following Beranek out of the bullpen, Landon Sexton (W, 1-1) worked out of the lone jam that EKU's offense pushed against the Blue Raiders. The Colonels loaded the bases with two outs after Sexton walked shortstop Pedro Moreno, but squandered the opportunity after Sexton slammed the door with a strikeout.
Mason Dobbs and Jack Fortner each threw a scoreless inning to get the Blue Raiders to the finish line, securing the team's second win by 17 this season.
With the four pitchers dominating on the bump, the Blue Raiders hitters did their best to out do them with the team's second highest run output this season.
Minnick got things going in the first inning with his first double, scoring leadoff man Owen Nowak.
The Blue Raiders then put up a five-spot in the second inning. Clay Badylak drove in two with an opposite field double down the left field line, with Brett Rogers, Nowak and Minnick each adding an RBI as well.
MTSU added three more in the fourth, with Cooper Clapp driving in a pair on a double. Minnick came around to score after EKU's Jackson Cauthron overthrew a toss to first base on a chopper hit by Rogers.
The offense delivered the final blow in the eighth inning, with an eight run frame. Minnick, Rogers, Layne Akers and Nathan Brewer all picked up RBIs, while Brett Vondohlen scored on a balk and Minnick scored on a wild pitch. Akers made it 17-0 after EKU's Tyler Phillips sailed a throw on a back pick to third base.
Middle Tennessee's 17-run win breaks the squad's four-game skid at a crossroads for the Blue Raiders, with Conference USA play on the horizon.
By the Numbers
2016: 2016 was the last time a Blue Raider notched three doubles in a game. Austin Dennis accomplished the feat on April 16, 2016 against Charlotte.
4.1: Bryant Beranek's 4.1 inning outing was the second-longest of his career, trailing the 5.0 inning mark. Beranek went 5.0 innings twice in his freshman season.
247: Tonight's win was the 247th of head coach Jerry Meyers' career.
The Skipper Speaks (Jerry Meyers)
"Today was real important to get us back," Meyers said. "It's not about feeling good or dwelling on an overall weekend…but to have a strike thrower that would allow us to play defense behind him that has good enough stuff and has enough experience. Bryant Beranek did that very well tonight."
Player Perspective (Tyler Minnick)
"I had no idea that I was the first guy to do that since 2016," Minnick said. "It's obviously a great thing. It feels good to get those accomplishments, but it's not really something I'm trying to focus on too much, especially with conference play this weekend."
Next up
The Blue Raiders will host Kennesaw State (7-6) to begin the CUSA slate. Game one is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. CT on Friday inside The Reese.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Sexton, Landon (1-1)
L: Chardy Tierney (0-1)
Base Running:
HBP: Julius Scearce 1 ; Ricco Longo 1
Batting:
2B: Nowak, Owen 1 ; O'Neill, Dean 1 ; Minnick, Tyler 3 ; Badylak, Clay 1
RBI: Nowak, Owen 1 ; Minnick, Tyler 4 ; Rogers, Brett 2 ; Clapp, Cooper 2 ; Akers, Layne 1 ; Brewer, Nathan 1 ; Badylak, Clay 2
SF: Brewer, Nathan 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Nowak, Owen 3 ; O'Neill, Dean 2 ; Minnick, Tyler 3 ; Rogers, Brett 2 ; Vondohlen, Brett 1 ; Clapp, Cooper 2 ; Akers, Layne 1 ; Brewer, Nathan 1 ; Badylak, Clay 2
SB: Clapp, Cooper 1 ; Akers, Layne 1 ; Badylak, Clay 1
CS: Clapp, Cooper 1
HBP: Akers, Layne 1
Game Leaders
AB
4
R
3
H
3
RBI
4
AB
4
R
2
H
3
RBI
2
AB
4
R
3
H
2
RBI
1
AB
4
R
2
H
2
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
UTL
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/ BaseballOF
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