Middle Tennessee State University Athletics
Middle Tennessee heads to sunshine state for weekend series with FIU
5/7/2026 2:00:00 PM | Baseball
May 8-10, 2026 | FIU Baseball Stadium | Miami |
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Florida International Panthers 15-33, 6-18 CUSA |
vs | Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders 23-25, 10-14 CUSA |
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MIAMI- Blue Raider baseball is embarking on its final road trip of the regular season, taking their talents to South Beach for a weekend series against the Florida International Panthers. This follows the first cancellation of the 2026 season, after Middle Tennessee's scheduled midweek match up against Lipscomb was called off due to weather.
The Blue Raiders and Panthers will rekindle a series that has been competitive over the years, with Middle Tennessee leading the all-time series 32-31.
So far on the 2026 season, FIU carries the second-lowest win total in Conference USA play and overall play, with six and 15 wins in each area. The Panthers are coming off a series sweep on the road to the Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens, who is the only team below FIU in the conference standings. The Panthers have faired better playing at home in Miami, with a 14-15 record inside FIU Baseball Stadium.
This series marks the first time all season that the Blue Raiders are playing outside of the central time zone. All game and broadcast times are listed in CT, with all three games carried on ESPN+. WGNS and the Blue Raider Network will have a radio broadcast of all three games, with Dylan Simmons coming to you live from Miami.
Friday, May 8
» Time/ Site 5 p.m. at FIU Baseball Stadium
Middle Tennessee (23-25, 10-14 CUSA) at FIU (15-33, 6-18 CUSA)
Saturday, May 9
» Time/ Site 2 p.m. at FIU Baseball Stadium
Middle Tennessee (23-25, 10-14 CUSA) at FIU (15-33, 6-18 CUSA)
Sunday, May 10
» Time/ Site 11 a.m. at FIU Baseball Stadium
TVLast Five Games (Blue Raiders Trail 1-4)
Date Results Location
03.30.25 L, 5-10 Murfreesboro, Tenn.
03.29.25 L, 5-6 Murfreesboro, Tenn.
03.28.25 W, 12-8 Murfreesboro, Tenn.
03.17.24 L, 6-16 (7 inn.) Miami
03.16.24 L, 6-11 Miami
Last Time Out: The Blue Raiders dropped a heartbreaker in the series rubber match against rival Western Kentucky, 9-8.
The Last Matchup: The Blue Raiders fell in the last weekend series against FIU at Reese Smith Jr. Field in Murfreesboro in 2025, taking the first game of the series 12-8.
Clay Badylak and Brett Rogers each picked up three hits in the win, while Nathan Brewer belted two home runs to lead the stout offensive effort.
Rain, Rain, Go Away: Middle Tennessee had its first cancellation of the season on Tuesday, with looming rain in the Nashville area forcing a bout on the road with the Lipscomb Bisons to be called off.
Dave Deals (Again): Two weeks removed from nearly throwing a complete game against Delaware, RHP David Horn Jr. tossed six scoreless to fuel a 7-1 win over the 'Tops on Friday. The senior picked up seven strikeouts against WKU.
Minni's @ 38!: Catcher Tyler Minnick continued his on-base streak in style, launching a home run in the first inning to put the Blue Raiders up 2-0. This was Minnick's ninth home run of the year, extending his on-base streak to 38 games. The Smryna, Georgia native tied a carer-high on the day with four RBI while extending the on-base streak.
King of the Hill: RHP Gavin King had his A+ swing-and-miss stuff on Sunday. Over 4.2 innings, the Nashville native struck out 11 Hilltoppers. King struck out the side twice on the way to a Blue Raider season high, and his career high.
Br3wer: Nathan Brewer was the offensive star of Friday's win, driving in three RBI for the Blue Raiders. This was part of a 3-for-5 day for the left fielder.
Clay Bady's Hot: Since picking up his first home run of the season last Tuesday against Vanderbilt, fifth-year shortstop Clay Badylak has been on fire.
The Cincinnati native is hitting .417/.500/.833 across four games with three extra-base hits and two RBI.
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 .382 batting average and .427 on-base percentage in Conference USA play, and belted his seventh home run of the year in game three on Sunday.
K Counter: David Horn Jr. is up to 65 strikeouts on the season, placing him seventh in Conference USA. Gavin King's 11 strikeout performance has him ninth in CUSA with 58 tickets punched.
#SCTop10: Centerfielder Owen Nowak found himself on SportsCenter's Top 10 Tuesday night, after robbing Vanderbilt's Rustan Rigdon of a home run in the bottom of the fifth. Nowak is the first Blue Raider since Eston Snider to make it to SportsCenter.
Bombs Away!: Following the weekend series against WKU, the Blue Raiders boast five players with seven or more home runs.
Dean O'Neill (11), Tyler Minnick (9), Nathan Brewer (8), Layne Akers (7) and Owen Nowak (7) are leading the power supply in Middle Tennessee.
10x: The Blue Raiders have surpassed the team's Conference USA win total from last year after the win over WKU on Friday. Middle Tennessee has six league games left, taking their talents to South Beach against FIU and hosting Liberty to round out the regular season.
Rotating rotation: After tossing 4.1 innings of two-run relief against Sam Houston, Gavin King was re-inserted to the weekend rotation to make his third start of the season for the Blue Raiders.
This marked the eighth different weekend rotation pairing for the Blue Raiders this season.
Cole Cates: Right-handed junior Cole Cates has gone five straight appearances without allowing an earned run.
Follow the Blue Raiders: Stay up to date with the Blue Raiders on X (@MT_Baseball), Facebook (Blue Raider Baseball) and Instagram (@MT_Baseball).
