Middle Tennessee State University Athletics
Middle Tennessee
Western Kentucky
Blue Raider baseball gears up to renew rivalry with Western Kentucky
4/30/2026 1:00:00 PM | Baseball
May 1-3, 2026 | Reese Smith Jr. Field | Murfreesboro, Tenn. | ||||
 | Western Kentucky Hilltoppers 24-21, 9-12 CUSA | at | Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders 22-23, 9-12 CUSA |  |
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - Middle Tennessee baseball returns home to The Reese for a three-game series against rival Western Kentucky, beginning on Friday.
Both squads are sitting at 9-12 in Conference USA play, and the all-time series sits at a tight 76-76 all-time.
The series is headlined by Friday's nights game with three promotions. It's Fraternity and Sorority Life night at The Reese, along with a 3/4 shirt giveaway and free hot dogs while supplies last.
Middle Tennessee (22-23, 9-12 CUSA) vs. Western Kentucky (24-21, 9-12 CUSA)
Friday, May 1
» Time/ Site 6 p.m. at The Reese
Middle Tennessee (22-23, 9-12 CUSA) vs. Western Kentucky (24-21, 9-12 CUSA)
Saturday, May 2
» Time/ Site 3 p.m. at The Reese
Middle Tennessee (22-23, 9-12 CUSA) vs. Western Kentucky (24-21, 9-12 CUSA)
Sunday, May 3
» Time/ Site 1 p.m. at The Reese
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Last Time Out: The Blue Raiders fell in the squad's midweek trip to Vanderbilt, 9-1.
The Last Matchup: The last time Middle Tennessee and Western Kentucky met for a weekend series, the Blue Raiders dropped the series.
Middle Tennessee picked up the middle game of the three game set, taking down the Hilltoppers 10-3. It was one of the Blue Raiders' three ranked wins last season.
Clay Bombylak: Blue Raider shortstop Clay Badylak picked up his first home run of the season on Tuesday against Vandy. The fifth-year lefty pulled a fastball out to left-center for his second career home run.
#SCTop10: Center fielder Owen Nowak found himself on SportsCenter's Top 10 Tuesday night, after robbing Vanderbilt's Rustan Rigdon of a home run in the bottom of the fifth. Nowak is the first Blue Raider since Eston Snider to make it to SportsCenter.
Minni's @ 35!: Senior C/1B Tyler Minnick set the longest on-base streak since 2015 in the loss to Tennessee Tech on April 21. The Blue Raider back stop has continued to grow the streak, with a double on Tuesday pushing him to 35 games. Dustin Delgado held the previous high, getting on-base in 30 straight contests in 2015.
Bombs Away!: In the Blue Raiders win on Saturday, the offense strung together five home runs to take down the Bearkats. Left fielder Nathan Brewer blasted off for two home runs, while Layne Akers, Tyler Minnick and Dean O'Neill all leaving the yard.
King Shoves: After picking up three saves in three games against Delaware, right-hander Gavin King switched up his pace out of the bullpen.
The Nashville, Tennessee native provided 4.1 innings of two-run relief, striking out eight Bearkat hitters. King picked up his third win of the year in the effort as part of the 12-8 win.
Layne's Leaving the Yard : DH/UTL Layne Akers had a strong weekend at the plate, hitting two home runs against the Bearkats. Akers is now up to six home runs with a .312/.381/.554 slash line in a breakout redshirt freshman campaign.
Career-High Pumps: 1B/C Dean O'Neill has continued to set a career-high in home runs after blasting his 11th homer of the year on Saturday. His previous high was as a sophomore and junior at Maine.
K Counter: David Horn Jr. is up to 58 strikeouts on the season, placing him seventh in Conference USA. Gavin King is knocking on the door of the strikeout leaderboard, with 47 strikeouts to his name.
9's Fine: The Blue Raiders win on Saturday over Sam Houston eclipsed the team's CUSA win total from 2025.
A Trio of Bombs: Middle Tennessee's offense was led by three home runs last Tuesday against Tennessee Tech, with Brett Vondohlen, Owen Nowak and Cooper Clapp all leaving the yard. Vondohlen's was his second in the last four games, while Clapp and Nowak both picked up their sixth homers of the season.
Torbett's Terrifc: LHP Cole Torbett had a career outing for the Blue Raiders on Sunday, hurling 8.2 innings of four-hit baseball for the Blue Raiders en route to his first career CUSA Pitcher of the Week honors and TSWA Pitcher of the Week honors.
The Johnson City, Tennessee native struck out six Blue Hens while walking just one batter. The redshirt junior totaled 116 pitches in his third start of the season.
Dave Deals: David Horn Jr. set the tone for Middle Tennessee's sweep over Delaware, tossing an 8.1 inning gem for the Blue Raiders. The senior righty tied a career high with nine strikeouts, while the Blue Hens only worked one run across while he was on the hill.
Rotation Rumbles: With the weekend trio of David Horn Jr., Chandler Alderman and Cole Torbett all picking up wins, the Middle Tennessee rotation combined to pitch 22.0 of MTSU's 27.0 innings.
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).
