2008 Woodie Awards
Trojans feel the sting of MT's bats
Blue Raiders set scoring, hitting records in 34-8 win over UALR
Jessica Stauffacher
Issue date: 3/31/08 Section: Sports
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Play resumed at 11:01 a.m. as MT (12-9-1, 5-5) had a double and a base on balls leaving two on base but not before putting five runs on the board. To begin the bottom of the third, the Blue Raiders scored two runs on a double by freshman Bryce Brentz and a single by sophomore Grant Box. While it was still raining, freshman Justin Miller then hit a three-run home run to left field as MT took a 10-1 lead.
The weather delay did not affect the Blue Raiders at all as they added three more runs in the bottom of the fourth on a shot to left field by junior Taylor Dennis, his first homer of the season padding the lead 13-1. Sophomore Blake McDade added another run to the board as his double to right field scored senior Zach Barrett from first. The Blue Raiders took a 16-run lead as junior Zach Dean had a three-run double and then added two more making it 19-1 as Brentz hit a two-run home run to right field. The Blue Raiders ended the inning with 11 runs on nine hits taking a 21-1 lead over the Trojans (4-19, 1-8).
Senior Doug Birkofer's single to left field in the top of the ninth set the new hits in a single game record giving the Blue Raiders 29 hits. The previous record was set in 2001 against Liscomb when the Blue Raiders had 28 hits.
MT kept scoring in the bottom of the fifth with nine runs on five hits setting a new record for runs in a single game while taking a 30-3 lead. The most runs previously scored by a MT team was 29 in 1989 against Tennessee Tech.
Junior Rawely Bishop led Middle Tennessee at the plate as he was three for six with six RBI and five runs. Box ended the day four for five with three RBI and four runs.
Sophomore Kenneth Roberts improved to 3-2 on the season as he allowed three runs on four hits in five innings of work.
UALR put a run on the board in the top of the first inning as Kroll scored from third on a double play groundball to Miller taking a 1-0 lead.
Bishop hit his second grand slam in four games to give the lead and then some to the Blue Raiders pushing to score to 4-1.
The Blue Raiders added another run in the bottom of the second and Dennis scored from third on a double by McDade.
In the final game of its series with UALR, MT lost 15-8.
Senior Brad Robinson took the loss on the mound as he allowed six runs, five earned on seven hits in four and a third innings of work.
"It is difficult to beat a team three times and as many runs as we scored throughout the day and the series it comes down to pitching," said MT head coach Steve Peterson. "We had good pitching the first two games. The bullpen was a little sloppy the second game and we didn't get a good start in the third game. Their guy was really good today and once he got his rhythm going he had some big outs in big situations and just shut down our club who had been doing very well."
Barrett led MT at the plate as he ended the day three for five with a home run and two runs. Junior Nathan Hines also performed well as he was two for four with two RBI.
The Blue Raiders hit two home runs in the game including a three-run shot by junior Zach Dean. MT ended the day with 12 hits including three doubles.
UALR hit a three-run home run to left field to take an early 3-0 lead in the top of the first.
MT responded with a home run of its own in the bottom of the second as Dean hit one to left field to close the gap to one as UALR led 3-2.
McDade tied the game at three in the bottom of the third with his double to left field.
In the top of the fifth, UALR scored three runs after a triple and a home run to break the tie and take a 6-3 lead.
The Blue Raiders had an answer as Hines singled to score McDade from second to close the gap to two.
UALR added two more in the sixth on a double by Matt Apfel with runners at second and third. The next batter, Robert Taylor hit a home run to centerfield to extend the Trojans' lead. One more run would score in the inning on an error by shortstop Miller as UALR took an 11-4 lead.
In the top of the eighth, the Trojans scored three runs on five hits to extend their lead 14-5.
Tyler Burnett responded for Middle Tennessee in the bottom of the eighth with his solo home run to right field to cut the lead to nine.
MT will be back in action on Tuesday, April 1 when it travels to Nashville, Tenn., to face Lipscomb at 6 p.m.
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