Middle Tennessee State University Athletics
Middle Tennessee
Louisiana Tech
Middle Tennessee baseball heads south for weekend series with LA Tech
4/9/2026 3:00:00 PM | Baseball
April 10-12, 2026 | J.C. Love Field | Ruston, La. |
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LA Tech Bulldogs 18-16, 6-6 CUSA |
vs | Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders 17-16, 5-7 CUSA |
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RUSTON, La. - Middle Tennessee baseball is continuing Conference USA play, hitting the road for a second straight weekend to take on the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs for a three-game set. The end of this series marks the halfway point of the Blue Raiders' 30-game conference schedule.
This is Middle Tennessee's first trip to Ruston, La. since April of 2024, highlighted by a 9-5 win in the series finale. Overall, the Blue Raiders lead the series 23-19, including six road wins against the Bulldogs.
The Blue Raiders are coming off a 5-3 midweek win over regional rival Lipscomb, while LA Tech took down in-state foe Northwestern State 7-0. Middle Tennessee is looking to rebound in CUSA play after dropping three games to Jax State, while LA Tech took two out of three last weekend from FIU. All three games in this weekend's series will be televised on ESPN+, along with a radio broadcast and audio stream available on WGNS and the Blue Raider Network.
Friday, April 10
» Time/ Site 6 p.m. at J.C. Love Field
Middle Tennessee (17-16, 5-7 CUSA) at LA Tech (18-16, 6-6 CUSA)
Saturday, April 11
» Time/ Site 3 p.m. at J.C. Love Field
Middle Tennessee (17-16, 5-7 CUSA) at LA Tech (18-16, 6-6 CUSA)
Sunday, April 12
» Time/ Site 1 p.m. at J.C. Love Field
TVLast Five Games (Blue Raiders Trail 2-3)
Date Results Location
04.13.25 W, 4-3 Murfreesboro, Tenn.
04.12.25 L, 8-10 Murfreesboro, Tenn.
04.11.25 L, 4-5 Murfreesboro, Tenn.
04.07.24 W, 9-5 Ruston, La.
04.06.24 L, 3-6 Ruston, La.
Last Time Out: Middle Tennessee picked up a midweek win over in-state opponent Lipscomb, 5-3. Tyler Minnick game through with the game winning knock in the eighth inning, scoring two on a botched ground ball that squeaked into left field.
'Pen's Perfect: In the win over the Bisons 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.
Mr. Double: After the weekend series against Jax State, catcher Tyler Minnick is up to third in CUSA in doubles with 13. Minnick picked up two doubles last week, including one during game one of the series on Thursday.
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.
Alderman's Limits: In eight of nine starts this season, left-hander Chandler Alderman has allowed two earned runs or less. In his last outing against Jax State, struck out four while keeping the Gamecocks to two total runs.
Junior Jumps Ahead: Right-hander David Horn Jr. picked up another strong outing on the mound, picking up six strikeouts in 6.0 innings of work. Horn held CUSA's standings leader to just two runs over those six frames.
Layne Train Takes Three: While earning the nod at first base for the first time this season, redshirt freshman Layne Akers picked up his first career triple in game two against Jax State. Akers cleared the bases, adding three RBI to his total of 25 on the season.
Never Fear, For Torbett is Here: Redshirt junior left-hander Cole Torbett made his first two appearances of the season last week, including a start on Friday against Jax State.
In his first start of the season, the Johnson City, Tennessee native hurled 3.0 innings, striking out five Gamecocks while not allowing an earned run. Torbett added a scoreless frame last Tuesday in his first appearane of the season against Southern Indiana.
Breaking out the Brooms: The Blue Raiders' series sweep over NM State was the team's first sweep since taking down Sam Houston last May during the team's last home series. Prior to that, Middle Tennessee's last Conference USA sweep was in 2023 against rival Western Kentucky.
Layne Leading the Way: UTL Layne Akers was on fire last week for the Blue Raiders. The Murfreesboro native collected eight hits and 11 RBI on the way to a .471/.500/.765 slash line, and capped off the strong week with a grand slam on the first pitch he saw Sunday. Akers was awarded with CUSA Hitter of the Week honors, earning Middle Tennessee's first weekly award of the season, along with the TSWA Player of the Week award.
Huge Homeruns: Along with Akers' grand slam on Sunday against NM State, Nathan Brewer and Dean O'Neill added to the long ball total. Brewer picked up his fifth home run of the year with a two-run home run, while O'Neill added his team-leading ninth homer on a pulled solo home run off the Lee Victory Wall.
Milestone Reached: MTSU Skipper Jerry Meyers picked up his 250th career win after Tuesday's game against Alabama A&M. It was Meyers' 83rd win at the helm of Middle Tennessee's club midway through his fourth season in Murfreesboro.
Decisions, Decisions: Blue Raider right-hander Landen Burch leads the team in both wins and losses with a 4-3 record. The Corning, New York native is tied for the CUSA lead in wins with four, while being tied for the team lead in saves with two.
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 protocals. 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).
