Middle Tennessee drops game two against Western Kentucky

Saturday, May 2

Murfreesboro, Tenn.

3 p.m.

Middle Tennessee

23-24, 10-13

Western Kentucky

25-22, 10-13

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Western Ky.	6	1	0	3	1	0	0	0	11	14	1
Middle Tenn.	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	5	2

5/2/2026 5:51:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

By: Anthony Fiorella, MTSU Athletic Communications

MURFREESBORO, Tenn.—Saturday's game between Middle Tennessee (23-24, 10-13 CUSA) and Western Kentucky (25-22, 10-13 CUSA) started out just like Friday's series opener. Unfortunately for the Blue Raiders, it was the Hilltoppers that had the big first inning in the second game of the series, putting up six runs in the opening frame on the way to an 11-0 win on Saturday.

Tyler Minnick was able to extend his on-base streak to 37 games with a single in the sixth inning. Nathan Brewer and Clay Badylak also had doubles. Brewer's 15 doubles sit one behind Minnick's team-high 16. Badylak finished with two hits and Brett Vondohlen also had a hit in the fifth inning to load the bases.

Junior reliever Cole Cates fired a scoreless seventh inning, marking five straight appearances for him without allowing an earned run.

Following today's game, Middle Tennessee finds itself in a three-way tie for sixth place in the conference with WKU and the winner of Sam Houston and Kennesaw State. The Blue Raiders and Hilltoppers both own the tiebreaker over Kennesaw State, but not against Sam Houston.

By the Numbers

37: Tyler Minnick's on-base streak is now pushed to 37 games. Minnick became the first Blue Raider with an on-base streak of 30 or more since Dustin Delgado (30) in 2015. Minnick's streak started on March 1.

5: straight appearances for Cole Cates without allowing an earned run.

The Skipper Speaks (Jerry Meyers)

"We dug a big hole there in the top of the first against what we knew was going to be one of the better arms that we've faced," Meyers said. "Giving him some cushion and us not playing damage control in the first was pretty much the story of the game."

Up next

The finale with WKU is scheduled for tomorrow at 1:00 p.m. CDT from Reese Smith Jr. Field. The game can be watched on ESPN+ and heard on the Blue Raider Network.