Blue Raiders can't outlast FIU, fall in nine innings to Panthers

Thursday, April 30

Murfreesboro, Tenn.

6:00 PM

Middle Tennessee

20-29, 6-19

FIU

33-16, 15-10

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
FIU	0	2	0	0	1	1	0	0	1	5	12	0
Middle Tenn.	0	0	1	1	2	0	0	0	0	4	10	1

4/30/2026 10:00:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

By: Andie Dolven / MTSU Athletic Communications

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – Middle Tennessee Softball (20-29, 6-19 CUSA) couldn't outlast FIU (33-16, 15-10 CUSA) in an extra inning thriller to open the series, the Panthers topping the Blue Raiders by a score of 5-4 in nine innings.

The first frame was scoreless, Middle Tennessee and FIU both stranding runners during their first chances in the box. The Panthers struck first in the top of the second, but the Blue Raiders answered in the bottom of the third, a solo home run from Macie Harter putting Middle Tennessee on the board. The Blue Raiders held the Panthers scoreless for another frame in the top of the fourth before Lexi Medlock tied it up with the second Blue Raider home run of the game.

The Blue Raiders fell behind after the top of the fifth, but not for long, as Harter, Jana Want and Onnika Spencer hit back-to-back-to-back doubles to drive in two more runs to give Middle Tennessee a 4-3 lead. The Panthers had an answer yet again in the top of the sixth, FIU forcing the third tie of the game. Both teams played lights out defense the rest of the way, but ultimately the Panthers got the tie-breaking run to the plate; the Blue Raiders unable to respond in the box in the bottom of the ninth.

Braelyn Hall got the start in the circle for Middle Tennessee, pitching a complete 9.0 innings and striking out six.

By the Numbers

2: For the fourth time this year, Middle Tennessee turned two double plays.
6: The Blue Raiders swung it well; six of the ten team hits were for extra bases, Macie Harter accounting for three of them with her two doubles and home run.
60: The Middle Tennessee team home run count grows to 60 after solo shots from Macie Harter and Lexi Medlock; the Blue Raiders are now four home runs shy of the single season record set during the 2025 season of 64.

Up Next

Middle Tennessee and FIU return to the Blue Raider Softball Field tomorrow at 4:00 p.m. CT to play game two of the final regular season Conference USA series of 2026.

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