Blue Raider bullpen holds late in 4-3 win over Kennesaw State to clinch CUSA series opener

Sunday, March 15

Murfreesboro, Tenn.

1 p.m.

Middle Tennessee

12-8, 2-1

Kennesaw State

8-8, 1-2

Kennesaw St.

Middle Tenn.

3/15/2026 4:52:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

By: Anthony Fiorella, MTSU Athletic Communications

MURFREESBORO, Tenn.—Middle Tennessee (12-8, 2-1 CUSA) left-hander Colin Kerrigan entered the game with one out in the eighth inning and the tying run standing on first base and hit Kennesaw State (8-8, 1-2 CUSA) leadoff hitter with his first pitch to put the tying run in scoring position. The big southpaw took a deep breath, settled in, and set down the next five hitters in a row to earn his first career save and preserve a 4-3 Blue Raider win. The tying runner that got to second base in the eighth was the ninth Owl baserunner that Blue Raider pitching left in scoring position. Between starter David Horn Jr, Landon Burch and Kerrigan, Middle Tennessee limited Kennesaw State to a 2-for-13 day with runners in scoring position.

The Owls pushed the game's first run across in the first inning but trailed 2-1 after three innings thanks to an RBI from Nathan Brewer, his fifth of the weekend, after Owen Nowak scored on a failed pickoff throw to first that squirted toward the Blue Raider dugout.

Kennesaw State tacked on two more in the fourth inning on a two out double to lead 3-2 until the bottom of the seventh inning when Owen Nowak collected his sixth RBI of the weekend to tie the game and first baseman Dean O'Neill doubled to straightaway centerfield on a ball that continued to carry in the wind to score Layne Akers from third and give Middle Tennessee the lead at 4-3.

Burch, who entered the game with the Blue Raiders down a run, allowed just three base runners in two innings to win his fourth game of the season while Kerrigan allowed just one to reach in a five-out save. Horn Jr's 5.1 innings pitched was the longest outing of the year, thus far, for him and he racked up five strikeouts allowing just one earned run in the effort.

Right fielder Brett Rogers led the Blue Raiders at the dish, finishing 4-for-4 with a double and a run scored. Owen Nowak capped off a productive weekend by combining to go 6-for-12 with six RBIs and five runs scored, two home runs and a stolen base.

By the Numbers

5.1: innings marks the longest outing of the year for David Horn Jr.

9: Owl runners stranded in scoring position by Blue Raider pitching.

4: hits today for Brett Rogers, who also scored a run.

The Skipper Speaks (Jerry Meyers)

"From an offensive standpoint, guys have been able to slow the game down," said Middle Tennessee Head Coach Jerry Meyers. "Playing through adversity, whether at-bat or on the mound, was big. David Horn didn't want to come out of the game when he did because he felt responsible for the jam we were in. Had to pry the ball out of his hand, and same with (Landon) Burch, but we had a better matchup when we took him out with a lefty coming up going to Kerrigan, and he did a really nice job."

Player Perspective (LHP Colin Kerrigan)

"I was hurt a few times last year and hurt over the summer," Kerrigan said. "It's been nice to come back this year and see all the hard work I put in during rehab from the coaches come together. It's been relieving and exciting. Coach (Meyers) told me to be ready to go today. As soon I got the call, I knew I just needed to keep the routing the same like any other day."

(OF Brett Rogers)

"(With the wind blowing out) it happens a lot where (you can overswing)," Rogers said. "During (batting practice), you might hit a ball and see it fly over the fence and think of how bad you want to do it during the game, but (Kennesaw State Starter Nolan Sliver) had good sinking action on his fastball, so I knew I had to stay down through it and not come up, which happens a lot when you try to hit home runs."

Up next

Middle Tennessee will play host to Murray State on Tuesday at 4:00 p.m. Coverage will be provided by the Blue Raider Network.