Middle Tennessee State University Athletics
Friday, March 13
Murfreesboro, Tenn.
6 p.m.
Middle Tennessee
10-8, 0-1
1
vs
6
Kennesaw State
8-6, 1-0
1st innning1
2nd innning2
3rd innning3
4th innning4
5th innning5
6th innning6
7th innning7
8th innning8
9th innning9
RunsR
HitsH
ErrorsE
Kennesaw St.
2
0
1
2
0
0
1
0
0
6
7
1
Middle Tenn.
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
1
5
2
Middle Tennessee drops CUSA Opener 6-1 to Kennesaw State
3/13/2026 9:17:00 PM | Baseball
MURFREESBORO, Tenn.—Middle Tennessee (10-8, 0-1 CUSA) reliever Gavin King entered the game in the fifth inning against Kennesaw State (8-6, 1-0 CUSA) and did his part to keep the Blue Raiders in the ballgame, tossing five innings of one-run ball, giving up just two hits. King also had a career-high five strikeouts in the effort, but it wasn't enough for the Blue Raiders to overcome an early deficit in a 6-1 loss to the Owls.
Middle Tennessee starter Chandler Alderman allowed four earned runs in four innings of work, striking out three in his first loss of the year.
The Blue Raiders got on the board in the fifth with a two-out double off the wall in right by leadoff man Owen Nowak to score Clay Badylak all the way from first base to make it a 5-1 game. It was Nowak's sixth double of the year and his 16th RBI.
Middle Tennessee catcher Tyler Minnick reached base twice and Badylak, Nowak, Dean O'Neill, Nathan Brewer and Layne Akers all had a hit in the game.
Kennesaw State right fielder Trenton Lyons scored two runs and catcher James McGee hit a two-run home run in the fourth inning.
By the Numbers
5- Strikeouts for Gavin King in five innings of relief, tying a career high in strikeouts and setting a new career high in innings pitched.
16- Game on-base streak for Brett Vondohlen, who reached in the bottom of the ninth on a hit-by-pitch.
The Skipper Speaks (Jerry Meyers)
"Obviously didn't get the result we wanted," said Middle Tennessee Head Coach Jerry Meyers. "We wanted to try and feel the starter out early and they got a few runs in the first, which can make it tough. They had an at-bat or two in crucial points in time that did damage. We had a nice outing out of Gavin King to try and get us back in it, but we just couldn't get that big inning."
Player Perspective (Gavin King)
"The cutter and two seamer (worked well), King said. "I've developed a good feel for that two-seamer the last few months, so to see it work well today with the cutter was great. Everyone looks at synergy and what you do in previous outings, and they didn't know I had that (two seamer). I got some swing and miss and some ground balls to set up the curveball and the cutter. I feel like we're in a good position going into tomorrow and have some guys that can come in and get outs."
Up next
Game two of the series with Kennesaw State is scheduled for tomorrow at 3:00 p.m. CDT from Reese Smith Jr. Field.
Middle Tennessee starter Chandler Alderman allowed four earned runs in four innings of work, striking out three in his first loss of the year.
The Blue Raiders got on the board in the fifth with a two-out double off the wall in right by leadoff man Owen Nowak to score Clay Badylak all the way from first base to make it a 5-1 game. It was Nowak's sixth double of the year and his 16th RBI.
Middle Tennessee catcher Tyler Minnick reached base twice and Badylak, Nowak, Dean O'Neill, Nathan Brewer and Layne Akers all had a hit in the game.
Kennesaw State right fielder Trenton Lyons scored two runs and catcher James McGee hit a two-run home run in the fourth inning.
By the Numbers
5- Strikeouts for Gavin King in five innings of relief, tying a career high in strikeouts and setting a new career high in innings pitched.
16- Game on-base streak for Brett Vondohlen, who reached in the bottom of the ninth on a hit-by-pitch.
The Skipper Speaks (Jerry Meyers)
"Obviously didn't get the result we wanted," said Middle Tennessee Head Coach Jerry Meyers. "We wanted to try and feel the starter out early and they got a few runs in the first, which can make it tough. They had an at-bat or two in crucial points in time that did damage. We had a nice outing out of Gavin King to try and get us back in it, but we just couldn't get that big inning."
Player Perspective (Gavin King)
"The cutter and two seamer (worked well), King said. "I've developed a good feel for that two-seamer the last few months, so to see it work well today with the cutter was great. Everyone looks at synergy and what you do in previous outings, and they didn't know I had that (two seamer). I got some swing and miss and some ground balls to set up the curveball and the cutter. I feel like we're in a good position going into tomorrow and have some guys that can come in and get outs."
Up next
Game two of the series with Kennesaw State is scheduled for tomorrow at 3:00 p.m. CDT from Reese Smith Jr. Field.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Cooper McMullen (1-2)
L: Alderman, Chandler (1-1)
S: Jayden Summerville (1)
Batting:
2B: Trenton Lyons 1
3B: Jackson Chirello 1
HR: James McGee 1
RBI: Trenton Lyons 1 ; Jackson Chirello 2 ; Wesley Alig 1 ; James McGee 2
SF: Wesley Alig 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Cooper Williams 1 ; Avery Wilson 1 ; Trenton Lyons 2 ; Grayson McCollum 1 ; James McGee 1
CS: Jackson Chirello 1
Batting:
2B: Nowak, Owen 1
RBI: Nowak, Owen 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Badylak, Clay 1
HBP: Vondohlen, Brett 1
Game Leaders
AB
4
R
0
H
1
RBI
1
AB
4
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
4
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
4
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
UTL
/ Baseball
LHP
/ Baseball
INF
/ Baseball
OF
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
C
/ BaseballOF
/ BaseballC
/ Baseball
INF
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