Middle Tennessee State University Athletics
3 Blue Raiders earn All-CUSA recognition
5/19/2026 12:00:00 PM | Baseball
MURFREESBORO, Tenn.- Three Blue Raiders were recognized with All-Conference USA honors, announced by the league office on May 19.
Outfielder Owen Nowak, catcher Tyler Minnick and designated hitter Layne Akers were all named Second Team All-CUSA . Akers was also named to theAll-Freshman Team.
In his first year as a Blue Raider, Owen Nowak shined out of the leadoff spot and in center field. Across 55 games, the junior led the team with a .325 average and a .445 on-base percentage. The left-handed hitter added some pop with eight home runs and 37 RBI. He also paced the team in scoring with 49 runs, and total hits with 67. Nowak flashed the leather throughout the 55 game campaign, with a perfect fielding percentage on 128 chances patrolling center field.
Tyler Minnick dazzled behind the dish for the Blue Raiders, showing up as a model of consistency in his senior season. The senior catcher racked up a 43-game on-base streak, while belting a team-high 27 extra-base hits. Minnick is scattered throughout the Blue Raider offensive leaderboards, with a .305 average (fifth), .936 OPS (third), 64 hits (third), 10 home runs (fourth) and 47 RBI (second). Primarily a catcher, Minnick leads CUSA in runners caught stealing with 18, and is second in putouts with 452.
Rounding out Middle Tennessee's CUSA honors is redshirt freshman Layne Akers, who was named to both Second Team All-CUSA and All-Freshman Team. A Murfreesboro, Tennessee native, Akers jumped into the Blue Raiders' lineup as the primary designated hitter in early March and never looked back. He slashed .307/.372/.509 with seven home runs and 30 RBI in 44 games. Akers' campaign was highlighted by earning CUSA Player of the Week honors for March 30 for an 11 RBI week including a grand slam to complete a sweep over New Mexico State.
Up Next:
The Blue Raiders are hitting the road to Kennesaw, Georgia for the CUSA Baseball Championship. Middle Tennessee drew the nine seed, placing them in Pool A along with Jacksonville State and Western Kentucky. Game one is slated for 12:30 p.m. CDT on May 20 against WKU, with game two against Jax State at 12:30 on May 21.
Follow the Blue Raiders:
Follow the Blue Raiders: Stay up to date with the Blue Raiders on X (@MT_Baseball), Facebook (Blue Raider Baseball) and Instagram (@MT_Baseball).
Outfielder Owen Nowak, catcher Tyler Minnick and designated hitter Layne Akers were all named Second Team All-CUSA . Akers was also named to theAll-Freshman Team.
In his first year as a Blue Raider, Owen Nowak shined out of the leadoff spot and in center field. Across 55 games, the junior led the team with a .325 average and a .445 on-base percentage. The left-handed hitter added some pop with eight home runs and 37 RBI. He also paced the team in scoring with 49 runs, and total hits with 67. Nowak flashed the leather throughout the 55 game campaign, with a perfect fielding percentage on 128 chances patrolling center field.
Tyler Minnick dazzled behind the dish for the Blue Raiders, showing up as a model of consistency in his senior season. The senior catcher racked up a 43-game on-base streak, while belting a team-high 27 extra-base hits. Minnick is scattered throughout the Blue Raider offensive leaderboards, with a .305 average (fifth), .936 OPS (third), 64 hits (third), 10 home runs (fourth) and 47 RBI (second). Primarily a catcher, Minnick leads CUSA in runners caught stealing with 18, and is second in putouts with 452.
Rounding out Middle Tennessee's CUSA honors is redshirt freshman Layne Akers, who was named to both Second Team All-CUSA and All-Freshman Team. A Murfreesboro, Tennessee native, Akers jumped into the Blue Raiders' lineup as the primary designated hitter in early March and never looked back. He slashed .307/.372/.509 with seven home runs and 30 RBI in 44 games. Akers' campaign was highlighted by earning CUSA Player of the Week honors for March 30 for an 11 RBI week including a grand slam to complete a sweep over New Mexico State.
Up Next:
The Blue Raiders are hitting the road to Kennesaw, Georgia for the CUSA Baseball Championship. Middle Tennessee drew the nine seed, placing them in Pool A along with Jacksonville State and Western Kentucky. Game one is slated for 12:30 p.m. CDT on May 20 against WKU, with game two against Jax State at 12:30 on May 21.
Follow the Blue Raiders:
Follow the Blue Raiders: Stay up to date with the Blue Raiders on X (@MT_Baseball), Facebook (Blue Raider Baseball) and Instagram (@MT_Baseball).
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