Middle Tennessee State University Athletics
Middle Tennessee
Murray State
Blue Raiders finish homestand by hosting Murray State and Belmont
3/2/2026 5:03:00 PM | Baseball
Tuesday, March 3 | 3 p.m. | Reese Smith Jr. Field | Murfreesboro, Tenn. |
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MURRAY STATE RACERS 10-2, 0-0 MVC |
at | MIDDLE TENNESSEE BLUE RAIDERS 8-3, 0-0 CUSA |
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MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – Blue Raider baseball is set to finish off its season-opening 13-game home stand with two midweek match ups, playing host to a pair of Ohio Valley Conference foes in the Murray State Racers and the Belmont Bruins.
The Racers will make the drive to Murfreesboro with a 10-2 record, and are winners of their last eight games. Murray State is coming off a strong season, in which the program made the College World Series and notched a program-record 44 wins. This will be the first game between Murray State and Middle Tennessee since 2021.
Middle Tennessee (8-3) vs. Murray State (10-2)
Tuesday, March 3
» Time/ Site 3 p.m. at The Reese
Last Five Games (Blue Raiders Lead 3-2)Date Results Location
2.24.21 L, 12-7 Murfreesboro, Tenn.
4.10.19 L, 12-6 Murray, Ky.
4.08.19 W, 8-5 Murfreesboro, Tenn.
4.22.00 W, 5-2 Murray, Ky.
4.21.00 W, 7-6 Murray, Ky.
Last Time Out: Middle Tennessee lost the final game of its three-game set against Illinois State, 14-7.
Fresh Bats: Redshirt freshmen Layne Akers and Calvin Cook notched their first career home runs in the loss to Illinois State. Akers hit a home run to left field, while Cook lined a single through the 3-4 hole.
Pacing the way in ERA: The MTSU pitching staff is currently leading the way in the ERA department in Conference USA, allowing only 2.80 earned runs on average.
King takes the crown: 6-foot-7 right-hander Gavin King earned the nod in the 13-3 Friday night win over Illinois State, filling in for the scheduled starter Drew Horn. Across 5.0 innings in his first start at the Division I level, King allowed one earned run while striking out three.
Nowak Knows: The Blue Raiders first year centerfielder Owen Nowak has jumped out in his first few outings donning blue.
Nowak is hitting .367/.571/.600 through 11 games, and leads MTSU in runs scored with 16.
OPS'ing to the Moon: Through 11 games, five Blue Raiders boast an OPS of over 1.000: Owen Nowak, Dean O'Neill, Brett Rogers, Tyler Minnick and Cooper Clapp
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 to beat SBU in game one.
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 protocols. WGNS will carry the team's radio broadcasts.
Wednesdayday, March 4 | 4 p.m. | Reese Smith Jr. Field | Murfreesboro, Tenn. |
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BELMONT BRUINS 4-8, 0-0 OVC |
at | MIDDLE TENNESSEE BLUE RAIDERS 8-3, 0-0 CUSA |
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The Blue Raiders will welcome in the second of four different in-state opponents on the team's schedule to The Reese on Wednesday in the Belmont Bruins. All-time, Middle Tennessee is 48-17 against Belmont, and will look to continue this streak amid the Blue Raiders hot start.
Middle Tennessee (8-3) vs. Belmont (4-8)
Wednesday, March 4
» Time/ Site 4 p.m. at The Reese
Live Stats
TV
Radio
Last Five Games (Blue Raiders Lead 4-1)
Date Results Location
4.15.25 W, 11-2 Nashville, Tenn.
3.12.25 W, 7-3 Murfreesboro, Tenn.
4.25.23 W, 8-4 Nashville, Tenn.
2.28.23 L, 7-10 Murfreesboro, Tenn.
4.19.22 W, 3-1 Murfreesboro, Tenn.
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