Blue Raiders Softball Open Season with Split

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The Middle Tennessee softball team opened the season on Friday at the Eagle Round Robin splitting two games in Statesboro , Ga.

#15 Vols Too Much In Game 1

The Blue Raiders put up a strong defensive effort against the Vols holding them scoreless until the sixth inning and allowing just three hits in the first four innings of action. Cori Jennings shut Tennessee down in the circle, recording two strikeouts in 5.2 innings pitched.

Middle also turned a few stellar plays in the field including a line drive snag by Austyn Whaley and a double play turned by Summer Burgess. Burgess caught a line drive and quickly tossed it across the diamond to catch the Volunteer runner off first base.

Offensively, the Raiders were held to just three hits. Whaley, Burgess and Payton Grove each hit singles but were unable to advance further.

The Vols put the game away in the bottom of the sixth, scoring four runs on five hits including two doubles and triple to win 4-0.

MT Bats Get Hot In Game 2

The Blue Raiders got out to an explosive start against Georgia Southern. In the first inning, MT recorded two runs. Precious Birdsong reached base on a bunt single and then stole second base. Burgess followed with a walk and both were then able to score on a deep double to right center from Whaley.

In the third inning, the Raiders added five more to draw out a 7-0 lead.

Grove drew a leadoff walk, and Birdsong followed with another bunt single. Lexi Cushing then sent a ball deep for a stand up double to score one. The Eagle pitcher then threw a wild pitch, allowing Birdsong to give MT a 4-0 advantage.

Adding to the lead, Whaley singles to right to score Cushing. Whaley then makes her way around to score on a combination of illegal pitches and errors. In the meantime, Kirstyn Cuccia reaches base on a walk and gets around to score on a single from Morgan Harris.

Georgia Southern was able to add two runs in the game, an RBI double in the third and a solo home run in the fourth. However, Gretchen Greer was able to keep most of the lineup at bay, picking up five strikeouts in her first complete game and win for Middle Tennessee.

In the sixth, a little small ball loaded the bases for Middle. Kaylyn Slatter hit a sacrefice fly to score a run and up next, Burgess beat it out for an infield single to give MT the 9-2 win.

Middle Tennessee returns to the field tomorrow at 1:30pm to take on Tennessee Tech.

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