Middle Tennessee State University Athletics
Middle Tennessee
Liberty
Blue Raider baseball closes regular season hosting Liberty
5/13/2026 3:30:00 PM | Baseball
May 14-16, 2026 | Reese Smith Jr. Field | Murfreesboro, Tenn. |
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Liberty Flames 15-33, 6-18 CUSA |
at | Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders 25-27, 11-16 CUSA |
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MURFREESBORO, Tenn.- Middle Tennessee baseball is slated to finish out the 2026 regular season slate by hosting Conference USA foe Liberty. It's set to be a busy weekend at The Reese between MCS/RCS Appreciation Night on Thursday and Senior Day festivities on Saturday in a pivotal series for the Blue Raiders.
The Blue Raiders' magic number is sitting at just one game to clinch a spot in the Conference USA tournament next week, meaning the Blue Crew needs just one win this weekend to secure a position. On the flip side, the Flames are aiming high with a chance at becoming CUSA regular season co-champions alongside Jacksonville State. The series is slated to start on Thursday, with the finale on Saturday with Senior Day. Senior Day is slated to begin at 12:30 p.m.
Thursday, May 14
» Time/ Site 6 p.m. at The Reese
Middle Tennessee (25-27, 11-16 CUSA) vs Liberty (36-17, 19-8 CUSA)
Friday, May 15
» Time/ Site 3 p.m. at The Reese
Middle Tennessee (25-27, 11-16 CUSA) vs Liberty (36-17, 19-8 CUSA)
Saturday, May 16
» Time/ Site 1 p.m. at The Reese-- Senior Day begins at 12:30
TVLast Five Games (Blue Raiders Trail 1-4)
Date Results Location
04.06.25 L, 2-12 Murfreesboro, Tenn.
04.05.25 L, 4-5 Murfreesboro, Tenn.
04.04.25 L, 3-13 Murfreesboro, Tenn.
03.24.24 L, 9-25 Lynchburg, Va.
03.23.24 W, 10-0 Lynchburg, Va.
Last Time Out: The Blue Raiders picked up the "W" in its final midweek contest of the regular season, taking down in-state foe Memphis 10-9.
The Last Matchup: This will be just the third all-time weekend series between Middle Tennessee and Liberty. In the Blue Raiders trip to Lynchburg, Virginia last season, Middle Tennessee was swept.
Wolfe Wows: Redshirt Junior shortstop Matt Wolfe played a big part in the Blue Raider win over Memphis, with a two-out pinch hit single in the bottom of the seventh, tying the ballgame at 9-9.
Cooper ClaPPP: Cooper Clapp pulled a solo home run over to right field in the bottom of the first, marking his third consecutive game with a home run. Clapp is the first Blue Raider since Eston Snider to belt a home run in three straight, when Snider accomplished the feat in February of 2025 against Fairleigh Dickinson.
Minni's @ 42!: Catcher Tyler Minnick continued his on-base streak through the midweek win over Memphis, pushing it to 42 consecutive games reaching base. Minnick went 2-for-4 with two RBI, including the game-winning RBI after being hit by pitch.
Scouting the Flames: The Flames are sitting at 36-17 and 19-8 in CUSA play, good enough for second in the league. Liberty is 37th in RPI, and most recently dropped 7-5 to Wake Forest.
LU is led by it's strong rotation, headlined by Ben Blair and Bradley Zayac.
Magic Number: The Blue Raiders' magic number to clinch a spot in the nine-team Conference USA tournament is down to one game. With a win at any point in the upcoming series against Liberty, Middle Tennessee will clinch a spot in the tournament at Kennesaw State.
Alderman's Past: Blue Raider left-hander Chandler Alderman has had a strong career so far against the Flames. Two years ago, Alderman tossed a no-hitter at The Reese facing Liberty. This marked the fifth no-hitter in program history, and was the first of two in two years after Drew Horn blanked Oakland last March.
Milestone Hit: The Blue Raiders win over Memphis marks the program's 1,700th win all-time. Middle Tennessee baseball is currently 1,700-1,394-10.
Brewer Bashes: Middle Tennessee left fielder Nathan Brewer rewrote the history books in the Blue Raiders' 11-9 win on Friday night over FIU. The Murfreesboro native clubbed four home runs in the series opener, as part of a 5-for-5 day with six RBI. Brewer is the first in Blue Raider baseball history and Conference USA baseball history to hit four home runs in a game.
Horn Returns: Blue Raider right-hander Drew Horn made his return to the mound on Sunday, picking up three strikeouts in 2.0 innings of work. Horn was charged with his first loss of the season after FIU scored three runs against Horn.
OPS Success: Heading into the final week of the regular season, five Blue Raiders boast an on base plus slugging percentage of .900 or higher: Nathan Brewer, Tyler Minnick, Owen Nowak, Cooper Clapp and Layne Akers.
K Counter: David Horn Jr. is up to 70 strikeouts on the season, placing him seventh in Conference USA. Gavin King's 59 strikeouts would slot him tenth in the league leaderboard if qualified.
In The Fast Layne: DH/UTL Layne Akers has continued to mash in conference play for the Blue Raiders. The redshirt freshman is carrying a team-high .366 batting average and is second on the squad with 19 RBI and 37 hits in Conference USA play.
Iron Man Watch: Five Blue Raider position players are on pace to start in all 55 scheduled game: Tyler Minnick, Dean O'Neill, Brett Vondohlen, Owen Nowak and Brett Rogers.
Weekend arms David Horn Jr. and Chandler Alderman are on pace to appear in all 14 weekend series.
Bombs Away!: Following the weekend series against FIU, the Blue Raiders boast three players with double digit home runs. Nathan Brewer (12), Dean O'Neill (11) and Tyler Minnick (10) have been supplying the power for Middle Tennessee.
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