Middle Tennessee State University Athletics
Friday, May 8
Miami, FL
5 p.m.
Middle Tennessee
24-25, 11-14
11
at
9
Florida International
15-34, 6-19
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Runs R | Hits H | Errors E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Middle Tenn. | 0 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 11 | 13 | 1 |
| FIU | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 9 | 11 | 2 |
Brewer's record-setting 4 home runs lead the way in Blue Raider win
5/8/2026 9:50:00 PM | Baseball
MIAMI- Prior to Friday night, Middle Tennessee (24-25, 11-14 CUSA) baseball, let alone Conference USA baseball, had never seen a four home run game.
That is, until Nathan Brewer rewrote history for the Blue Raiders with a four-home run, 5-for-5 day that led to an 11-9 win over league foe Florida International (15-34, 6-19 CUSA) in the first game of a weekend set.
Brewer got the Blue Raider offense started in the top of the second with a no-doubt solo home run to deep right field off FIU ace Preston Prince (L, 0-4). The Murfreesboro native's power streak wasn't done in the frame, blasting a three-run homer to left off reliever Tracen Cameron to put the cherry on top of an eight run inning.
Brewer tied the NCAA record for most home runs in an inning, with his two home runs in the second frame.
The Blue Raider left fielder continued the epic feat in the top of the fourth and the ninth with solo home runs to center field. Brewer battled back in the ninth to accomplish the feat, taking a 3-2 pitch to dead center after FIU righty Enrique Sierra fell behind 3-0 in the count.
Overall on the day, Brewer paired his record-setting four home runs with the third five hit game of the season, and a career-high six RBI.
Along with Brewer, Tyler Minnick and Layne Akers added multi-hit days. Minnick went 3-for-5 to extend his on-base streak to 39 games, while Akers went 2-for-5 with an RBI. Owen Nowak and Clay Badylak added an RBI to the huge offensive effort.
On the hill, the Blue Raiders utilized five arms to hold the Panther offense behind Brewer and the rest of the Middle Tennessee bats.
David Horn Jr. got the Friday night nod once again, and turned in 4.2 innings of five strikeout ball. Cole Torbett (W, 2-1) turned in an inning of work behind Horn, while John Michael Pickens (S, 2) slammed the door with 1.1 scoreless innings.
Bryant Beranek turned in a strong effort with 1.1 scoreless to match Pickens, with Gavin King picking up a strikeout while recording two outs in the eighth.
By the Numbers:
1: Nathan Brewer has become the first player in both Blue Raider baseball and Conference USA baseball history to hit four home runs in a game.
5-5: Along with his four homers, Brewer turned in the third five hit effort the Blue Raiders have seen this year. Brett Rogers and Dean O'Neill on Feb. 14 and 17.
39: Tyler Minnick's on-base streak has grown to 39 games. There has been only one game this season where the senior catcher failed to reach base.
The Skipper Speaks (Jerry Meyers):
"I felt like Nate was locked in all night," Meyers said. "He wasn't trying to do too much. The first one that he put a really good swing on was not a pull, pull kind of swing. It was just not trying to do too much, but get extended and he carried that through the rest of the night."
Player Perspective (Nathan Brewer):
"I think I was seeing it well up there," Brewer said. "I think I was seeing a beach ball coming in each at-bat. It was just the right pitches in the right at-bats.
Our hitting coach [Kevin Nichols] just came up to me and said, 'Well, just hit another one.' And I was like, 'Well, okay.'"
Up Next:
The Blue Raiders and Panthers will be back at it tomorrow with a 2 p.m. CT first pitch from FIU Baseball Stadium in Miami. Middle Tennessee left-hander Chandler Alderman (2-3, 5.26 ERA) is slated to toe the rubber for the Blue Raiders. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+, with a radio call available on WGNS and the Blue Raider Network with Dylan Simmons.
That is, until Nathan Brewer rewrote history for the Blue Raiders with a four-home run, 5-for-5 day that led to an 11-9 win over league foe Florida International (15-34, 6-19 CUSA) in the first game of a weekend set.
Brewer got the Blue Raider offense started in the top of the second with a no-doubt solo home run to deep right field off FIU ace Preston Prince (L, 0-4). The Murfreesboro native's power streak wasn't done in the frame, blasting a three-run homer to left off reliever Tracen Cameron to put the cherry on top of an eight run inning.
Brewer tied the NCAA record for most home runs in an inning, with his two home runs in the second frame.
The Blue Raider left fielder continued the epic feat in the top of the fourth and the ninth with solo home runs to center field. Brewer battled back in the ninth to accomplish the feat, taking a 3-2 pitch to dead center after FIU righty Enrique Sierra fell behind 3-0 in the count.
Overall on the day, Brewer paired his record-setting four home runs with the third five hit game of the season, and a career-high six RBI.
Along with Brewer, Tyler Minnick and Layne Akers added multi-hit days. Minnick went 3-for-5 to extend his on-base streak to 39 games, while Akers went 2-for-5 with an RBI. Owen Nowak and Clay Badylak added an RBI to the huge offensive effort.
On the hill, the Blue Raiders utilized five arms to hold the Panther offense behind Brewer and the rest of the Middle Tennessee bats.
David Horn Jr. got the Friday night nod once again, and turned in 4.2 innings of five strikeout ball. Cole Torbett (W, 2-1) turned in an inning of work behind Horn, while John Michael Pickens (S, 2) slammed the door with 1.1 scoreless innings.
Bryant Beranek turned in a strong effort with 1.1 scoreless to match Pickens, with Gavin King picking up a strikeout while recording two outs in the eighth.
By the Numbers:
1: Nathan Brewer has become the first player in both Blue Raider baseball and Conference USA baseball history to hit four home runs in a game.
5-5: Along with his four homers, Brewer turned in the third five hit effort the Blue Raiders have seen this year. Brett Rogers and Dean O'Neill on Feb. 14 and 17.
39: Tyler Minnick's on-base streak has grown to 39 games. There has been only one game this season where the senior catcher failed to reach base.
The Skipper Speaks (Jerry Meyers):
"I felt like Nate was locked in all night," Meyers said. "He wasn't trying to do too much. The first one that he put a really good swing on was not a pull, pull kind of swing. It was just not trying to do too much, but get extended and he carried that through the rest of the night."
Player Perspective (Nathan Brewer):
"I think I was seeing it well up there," Brewer said. "I think I was seeing a beach ball coming in each at-bat. It was just the right pitches in the right at-bats.
Our hitting coach [Kevin Nichols] just came up to me and said, 'Well, just hit another one.' And I was like, 'Well, okay.'"
Up Next:
The Blue Raiders and Panthers will be back at it tomorrow with a 2 p.m. CT first pitch from FIU Baseball Stadium in Miami. Middle Tennessee left-hander Chandler Alderman (2-3, 5.26 ERA) is slated to toe the rubber for the Blue Raiders. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+, with a radio call available on WGNS and the Blue Raider Network with Dylan Simmons.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Torbett, Cole (2-1)
L: Preston Prince (0-4)
S: Pickens, John Michael (2)
Batting:
HR: Brewer, Nathan 4
RBI: Nowak, Owen 1 ; Akers, Layne 1 ; Brewer, Nathan 6 ; Badylak, Clay 1
SH: Clapp, Cooper 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Minnick, Tyler 1 ; Clapp, Cooper 1 ; Akers, Layne 2 ; Brewer, Nathan 4 ; Vondohlen, Brett 1 ; Rogers, Brett 1 ; Badylak, Clay 1
CS: Brewer, Nathan 1 ; Rogers, Brett 1
PO: Vondohlen, Brett 1
Batting:
2B: Cooper Rasmussen 1 ; Andrew Ildefonso 1
3B: Cole Cleveland 1
HR: Mario Trivella 1 ; Aidan Cohall 1
RBI: Samuel Fischer 1 ; Mario Trivella 2 ; Cooper Rasmussen 1 ; Andrew Ildefonso 1 ; Aidan Cohall 3 ; Cole Cleveland 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Samuel Fischer 1 ; Mario Trivella 2 ; Cooper Rasmussen 1 ; Andrew Ildefonso 1 ; Aidan Cohall 1 ; Enrique Alvarez Jr. 1 ; Hector Candelas 1 ; Cole Cleveland 1
HBP: Samuel Fischer 1 ; Hector Candelas 1 ; Trey Freeman 1
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