Blue Raiders Win Again, 6-4

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. -- Josh Archer's two-run homer in the sixth provided the insurance, as Middle Tennessee defeated Kent State, 6-4, Sunday at a cold and blustery Reese Smith Field, ending the weekend with three straight victories.

The Blue Raiders got on the board early, scoring twice with just one hit. Archer walked to leadoff the second and Chad Cooper followed with a double down the leftfield line to plate Archer. Cooper then stole third and scored on a sacrifice fly to right by Shane Kemp.

 

Kent State scored an unearned run in the fourth when Kemp dropped a fly ball with two outs off the bat of Chad Kinyon and Eric O'Brien followed with a run-scoring single.

 

But the Golden Flashes gave the runs back in the bottom of the frame. Cooper scored when KSU rightfielder Adam Crowder dropped a Kemp fly ball with two outs, and Brett Carroll scored on a wild pitch for a 4-1 Blue Raider advantage.

 

KSU cut into the lead with single runs in the fifth and sixth. Crowder beat out a bunt single to leadoff the fifth and went to second when Carroll's throw from third was wild. Crowder scored on a pair of ground balls. Pat O'Brien walked to leadoff the sixth and scored on a double to right-center by Kinyon, cutting the lead to 4-3.

 

The Blue Raiders got the two runs back in their half of the sixth, as Nate Jaggers singled to leadoff and Archer blasted his third home run in two games, a tape-measure shot to leftfield to give Middle Tennessee a 6-3 lead.

 

The Golden Flashes loaded the bases in the eighth via a single from Pat O'Brien and a pair of walks. But pinch-hitter Ben Whitney struck out to end the threat with the Blue Raiders still holding a three-run advantage.

 

Blue Raider miscues gave KSU chances in the ninth, as Jaggers made a wild throw to first with one out. After a stolen base, Matt Sega beat out a bunt single and Joe Tucker scored on a throwing error by pitcher Danny Borne.

 

The Blue Raiders went to the pen with the tying run at the plate, summoning Chris Mobley. Sega tried to move up a base on a ball in the dirt, but was thrown out by Troy Harp. Mobley then induced Pat O'Brien to pop out to short to end the contest.

 

Blue Raider starter Travis Horschel (1-0) got the victory, allowing three runs, one earned, in 5.2 innings of work. Borne worked 2.2 innings and deserved better, giving up an unearned run and three hits with four strikeouts. Mobley got the final two outs for his first save of the season.

 

KSU starter Justin Laraway (0-1) took the loss, giving up four runs, two earned, on just three hits in five innings of work.

 

The Blue Raiders are scheduled to take on Tennessee Tech Tuesday at 3 p.m. in Cookeville before a weekend series at Southwest Missouri State, March 7-9.

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