Middle Tennessee State University Athletics

Blue Raiders drop final game of weekend series to LA Tech
4/12/2026 4:34:00 PM | Baseball
RUSTON, La.- Middle Tennessee baseball (17-19, 5-10 CUSA) fell in the final game of its weekend series against Louisiana Tech (21-16, 9-6 CUSA) 5-3 in a Sunday afternoon matchup.
After falling behind 3-0 in the bottom of the second, the Blue Raiders clawed back by putting up a crooked number in the top of the fourth.
Dean O'Neill got the scoring started for Middle Tennessee with a double down the left field line to score Tyler Minnick from second. Cooper Clapp pushed across Layne Akers with a sacrifice fly to right field.
O'Neill rounded out the scoring in the inning after coming around to score after an errant throw ended up in left field trying to catch the Blue Raider first baseman stealing third base.
Middle Tennessee and LA Tech stayed locked in a 3-3 tie through the middle innings in part to strong relief pitching on both sides. The Blue Raider bullpen left the bases loaded in the sixth and seventh innings.
The Bulldog bats eventually broke through against the Middle Tennessee 'pen, pushing across the go-ahead run in the seventh, and an insurance run in the eighth inning.
Head coach Jerry Meyers utilized six pitchers in the series finale. Cole Torbett earned the nod for his second start of the season, while Landen Burch shined in relief– tallying 3.1 innings without surrendering a hit to LA Tech.
By the Numbers:
3: With an RBI double today, Dean O'Neill marked his third straight game with an RBI.
11: Nathan Brewer notched his 11th double of the season today, continuing to extend his career-high for doubles in a season after hitting six last year.
9: Layne Akers' two hits today marked his ninth multi-hit performance of the season for the redshirt freshman, in just 23 starts.
Next up:
The Blue Raiders will return to Tennessee to finish off a four game road trip in the midweek slate, taking the short trip north to Nashville to face off with the Belmont Bruins (13-23, 4-5 MVC). First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m. CT on Tuesday, with a radio broadcast and audio stream available on WGNS and the Blue Raider Network with Dick Palmer and John Callow.
After falling behind 3-0 in the bottom of the second, the Blue Raiders clawed back by putting up a crooked number in the top of the fourth.
Dean O'Neill got the scoring started for Middle Tennessee with a double down the left field line to score Tyler Minnick from second. Cooper Clapp pushed across Layne Akers with a sacrifice fly to right field.
O'Neill rounded out the scoring in the inning after coming around to score after an errant throw ended up in left field trying to catch the Blue Raider first baseman stealing third base.
Middle Tennessee and LA Tech stayed locked in a 3-3 tie through the middle innings in part to strong relief pitching on both sides. The Blue Raider bullpen left the bases loaded in the sixth and seventh innings.
The Bulldog bats eventually broke through against the Middle Tennessee 'pen, pushing across the go-ahead run in the seventh, and an insurance run in the eighth inning.
Head coach Jerry Meyers utilized six pitchers in the series finale. Cole Torbett earned the nod for his second start of the season, while Landen Burch shined in relief– tallying 3.1 innings without surrendering a hit to LA Tech.
By the Numbers:
3: With an RBI double today, Dean O'Neill marked his third straight game with an RBI.
11: Nathan Brewer notched his 11th double of the season today, continuing to extend his career-high for doubles in a season after hitting six last year.
9: Layne Akers' two hits today marked his ninth multi-hit performance of the season for the redshirt freshman, in just 23 starts.
Next up:
The Blue Raiders will return to Tennessee to finish off a four game road trip in the midweek slate, taking the short trip north to Nashville to face off with the Belmont Bruins (13-23, 4-5 MVC). First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m. CT on Tuesday, with a radio broadcast and audio stream available on WGNS and the Blue Raider Network with Dick Palmer and John Callow.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Fisher, Riley (2-1)
L: Beranek, Bryant (1-2)
S: Allen, Thomas (2)

Batting:
2B: Brewer, Nathan 1 ; O'Neill, Dean 1
RBI: Clapp, Cooper 1 ; O'Neill, Dean 1
SF: Clapp, Cooper 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Minnick, Tyler 1 ; Akers, Layne 1 ; O'Neill, Dean 1
SB: O'Neill, Dean 1

Batting:
2B: Lunsford, Colby 1
3B: McCoy, Casey 1
HR: McCoy, Casey 1
RBI: Patterson, Cade 1 ; Coates, Colton 1 ; Lunsford, Colby 1 ; McCoy, Casey 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Scott, Wesley 1 ; Lunsford, Colby 1 ; Menuet, Brecken 1 ; McCoy, Casey 2
SB: Menuet, Brecken 1
HBP: Scott, Wesley 1
Game Leaders
Players Mentioned
Season Preview - MTSU Baseball
Thursday, February 12
MTSU Baseball 53rd Annual Ground Hog Day Lunch 2/2/26
Monday, February 02
True Blue Testimonials - Baseball Catcher Tyler Minnick
Tuesday, January 27
Facility tour – Stephen and Denise Smith Student-Athlete Performance Center
Wednesday, July 30



























