Middle Tennessee State University Athletics
Middle Tennessee
Delaware
Blue Raider baseball hosts Delaware for weekend set
4/16/2026 4:00:00 PM | Baseball
April 17- April 19, 2026 | Reese Smith Jr. Field | Murfreesboro, Tenn. | ||||
 | Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens 11-26, 1-14 CUSA | at | Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders 18-19, 5-10 CUSA |  |
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - Following a four-game road trip punctuated by a 13-inning thriller over regional foe Belmont, Middle Tennessee baseball is returning to Reese Smith Jr. Field for a weekend series against Conference USA opponent Delaware.
The Fightin' Blue Hens have had a slow start in its inaugural campaign in CUSA, picking up one win in the first half of the league slate against Dallas Baptist.
Friday's game will be the first all-time match up between the two schools on the diamond.
Middle Tennessee (17-18, 5-10 CUSA) vs. Delaware (11-26, 1-14 CUSA)
Friday, April 17
» Time/ Site 6 p.m. at The Reese
Middle Tennessee (18-19, 5-10 CUSA) vs. Delaware (11-26, 1-14 CUSA)
Saturday, April 18
» Time/ Site 3 p.m. at The Reese
Middle Tennessee (18-19, 5-10 CUSA) vs. Delaware (11-26, 1-14 CUSA)
Sunday, April 19
» Time/ Site 1 p.m. at The Reese
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Last Time Out: Middle Tennessee picked up a thrilling extra-inning win against Belmont on Tuesday night, with the Blue Raiders coming out on top 10-8 in 13 frames.
First Time Foes: The Blue Raiders are squaring off with Delaware for the first time in program history for the upcoming weekend series. This is Delaware's first baseball season in Conference USA, joining alongside Missouri State.
King of the Hill: RHP Gavin King shined in the win over Belmont, with 4.0 innings of one-hit ball and a season-high eight strikeouts for Middle Tennessee. King entered the game with the score tied 8-8 in the 10th, and silenced the Bruin bats for the next four innings.
Dean Strike: Catcher Dean O'Neill was the hero of Tuesday night's game on offense, belting a two-run home run off the batter's eye at E.S. Rose Park to give Middle Tennessee a 10-8 lead. The homer was O'Neill's team-leading 10th of the season, and the third most in Conference USA.
Doubles on Doubles: The Blue Raider bats rewrote history on Tuesday night, setting the program's single-game doubles record with nine as a team.
Designated hitter Layne Akers and second baseman Cooper Clapp led the way with three each, tying the single game record for the Blue Raiders.
Wolfe Goes Yard: Redshirt Junior shortstop Matt Wolfe picked up his second home run of the season against Belmont, and the Blue Raiders' first pinch-hit home run of the season.
Wolfe pulled a pitch down the left field line, playing a large part in the comeback with a two-run home run in the seventh.
'Pen's Perfect: In the win over Lipscomb on Tuesday, the Blue Raider bullpen shined. Across 6.0 innings, John Micheal Pickens, Landen Burch, Colin Kerrigan (W, 3-2) and Gavin King (S, 2) combined to allow to just one run and three hits.
Pushing the Right Buttons: In the game against Belmont, head coach Jerry Meyers toyed around with the lineup while getting deep into the bullpen. The Blue Raiders utilized five pitchers, and six position players across the 13 innings.
We're Only Halfway There!: This past weekend's series against LA Tech marked the halfway point of the Blue Raiders' 30-game CUSA schedule. Middle Tennessee holds a favorable back half of the schedule, taking on Delaware, Sam Houston, Western Kentucky, FIU and Liberty to finish off conference play.
Burch Battles: Right-hander Landen Burch had a standout relief outing on Sunday, tossing 3.1 hitless innings for Middle Tennessee. This was the senior swingman's third appearance of the week and 15th on the season. 15 appearances is second on the team (Colin Kerrigan, 16 app.), and the seventh highest total nationally.
O'Neill's Impact: Blue Raider 1B/C Dean O'Neill has scattered his name all over the team and CUSA leaderboards. The West Chester, Pennslyvania native leads Middle Tennessee in home runs, RBI, hits and total bases.
Swing and a Miss: Right-hander David Horn Jr. continued to keep pace with the CUSA strikeout leaderboard this past weekend, picking up five strikeouts. This moved the senior's season total to 43, which is good for eighth in CUSA.
Mr. Double: After the weekend series against Jax State, catcher Tyler Minnick is up to fifth in CUSA in doubles with 13.
Grant's Gone: Infielder Grant Snider picked up his first stolen base and run scored of the season in the midweek win over Lipscomb.
Snider pinch ran for Dean O'Neill in the eighth, swiped second and scored the tying run on Brett Vondohlen's RBI single.
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.
Follow the Blue Raiders: Stay up to date with the Blue Raiders on X (@MT_Baseball), Facebook (Blue Raider Baseball) and Instagram (@MT_Baseball).
