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Fisherback helping MTSU softball cause
Courtesy goblueraiders.com
MT. PLEASANT, S.C.- The Middle Tennessee softball team captured its
first win of the season, defeating Wagner 6-3 before falling to
Lipscomb 8-0 in five innings on Saturday at the College of Charleston
Cougar Classic.
Middle Tennessee faced Wagner in the tournament’s fifth game on
Saturday. Kristi Marquez put the Blue Raiders on the board first with a
two-out RBI double in the second inning, scoring Bethany Jones who
pinch ran for Kelsey Woodruff following a one-out walk. The Seahawks
responded in the home half of the inning when Carley Nicoletti singled
through the left side to bring home Brittany Huss.
Middle Tennessee picked up another two-out tally in the third. After
Nina Davenport and Samantha Nieves grounded out to begin the inning,
Kayla Toney kept the inning alive with a walk and then proceeded to
steal second. Natalie Ysais knocked her in with a single through the
left side to put the Blue Raiders back in front 2-1.
The lead would not last very long, however, as Wagner tied the game at
2-2 in the bottom of the fourth when Nicoletti was doubled home by
Kristen Matteoni.
The Seahawks then took their first lead of the contest in the fifth on
a Jessica Albarran lead-off solo home run. Blue Raider starter Caty
Jutson was relieved by Jordyn Fisherback who retired the next three
batters to end the inning.
Seeming neither team wanted to maintain hold of the lead, Middle
Tennessee tied the game for a third time in the top of the sixth when
Nina Dever doubled home pinch runner Chelsea Good.
The Blue Raiders then took control of the game in the seventh. Toney
led off the frame with a double and was singled home on a Popham single
to left to put Middle Tennessee up 4-3. Woodruff followed with a double
of her own to score Popham and make it 5-3. After Good was retired on
an infield pop-up, Marquez increased the lead to three with an RBI
single. Dever grounded into a fielder’s choice to send the game to the
bottom of the seventh.
Jutson retired MacKenzie Alfaro and Albarran for two quick outs in the
bottom half of the inning. The Seahawks refused to go down easily,
though, as Brittany Huff singled and Hayley Sullivan reached after
being hit by a pitch. The Blue Raider right hander dug deep and got
Vanessa Lenart to fly out to right field to end the game and give
Middle Tennessee a 6-3 victory.
Middle Tennessee temporarily bettered its record to 1-4 while Wagner
fell to 0-2 on the season.
Jutson went three innings, allowing no earned runs on two hits for the
win. Ashley Rollins gave up three earned runs on six hits in 1.2
innings pitched and received the loss.
Marquez went 2-3 with two runs batted in to lead the offensive charge
for the Blue Raiders. Meanwhile Matteoni had three knocks and an RBI to
pace Wagner.
Middle Tennessee was unable to build on its momentum from the Wagner
game.
After both teams traded zeros in the first two innings, Lipscomb took a
2-0 lead in the third on a two-run double by Kelsey Cartwright. The
Blue Raiders threatened in the bottom of the inning when Davenport and
Nieves led off with back-to-back walks. Toney then knocked a single
through the middle, but Davenport was thrown out at the plate. Ysais
grounded into a fielder’s choice and Popham flied out to center field
to end the inning with Lipscomb maintaining its 2-0 lead.
The Bison took complete control of the game with a six-run fourth
inning in which Lipscomb tallied four hits and were benefited by three
Middle Tennessee errors. Bree Thurman’s two-run double made it 5-0
after Kristen Sturdivant provided a run-scoring single earlier in the
inning. Cartwright then blasted a three-run home run to give Lipscomb
an 8-0 advantage.
Middle Tennessee went up-and-down in order in both the fourth and fifth
to end the contest after five innings. The Blue Raiders fell to 1-5 on
the season while Lipscomb upped its record to 6-3.
Jutson got the loss for Middle Tennessee, allowing four runs (two
earned) on three hits in 3.1 innings pitched. Whitney Kiihnl tossed all
five innings for the Bison, giving up no runs on four hits to get the
win.
The Blue Raiders were led at the plate by Woodruff who went 2-2.
Cartwright paved the way for Lipscomb, going 2-3 with a home run and 5
RBIs.
Middle Tennessee returns to action on Sunday when they face Virginia
Tech at 10 a.m. CT followed by a meeting with College of Charleston at
2 p.m.
Follow every pitch of the Cougar Classic via live stats courtesy of
College of Charleston which can be viewed at CofCsports.com. Periodic
updates will also be provided via the Middle Tennessee softball social
media pages on Twitter (@MT_Softball) and Facebook (MTSU Softball).
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