Blue Raiders Drop 9-3 Decision

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- Southwest Missouri State starter Chad Mulholland struck out 13 and SMS belted four home runs on a very breezy day in a 9-3 victory over Middle Tennessee Saturday afternoon at Price Cutter Park.

The breeze was blowing out to leftcenter and gusting to 25 miles per hour during the contest, and the home team took full advantage. 

The Blue Raiders (4-5) got on the board in the top of the first with a pair of runs, as Jeff Beachum was hit by a pitch and Nate Jaggers singled. Josh Archer then drove both runs in with a double inside the third base bag for an early 2-0 lead.

But the Bears (6-3) got those back plus some in the bottom of the first, with Brooks Colvin reaching on a throwing error and Dant'e Brinkley grounding on a fielder's choice. Greg Mathis then blasted a three-run shot over the centerfield wall for a 3-2 SMS advantage. 

Back-to-back solo shots in the second by Tony Piazza and Rick Wilson gave the Bears a 5-2 lead. SMS added three more in the fifth on RBI singles from Dant'e Brinkley and Shaun Marcum and a sacrifice fly by Mathis.

Middle Tennessee got a run in the sixth when Archer, Chad Cooper and Marcus Taylor collected back-to-back-to-back singles, plating Archer to make it 8-3 SMS. 

Mulholland (1-0) struggled in the first but settled down after that, striking out 13 in seven innings of work. He gave up three runs on seven hits and did not walk a batter.

The Bears roughed up Blue Raider starter Steve Kline (1-1), who allowed eight runs, seven earned, on nine hits in 4.2 innings. Chris Mobley tossed 1.1 no-hit innings of relief of Kline, keeping the Blue Raiders in the contest in the middle innings. Jerry Knox also tossed a scoreless inning. 

The Blue Raiders and Bears conclude their three-game series Sunday at 1 p.m. before Middle Tennessee travels to Cape Girardeau, Mo., for a single game against Southeast Missouri on Monday at 3 p.m.

GAME NOTES

Senior Chad Cooper made the first start of his career at leftfield, and freshman Marcus Taylor made his first start as the designated hitter ... Nate Jaggers singled in his first at-bat of the game, his fifth straight hit dating to Friday's contest. Jaggers also had five consecutive hits last Friday and Saturday against Kansas and Rutgers ... Derek Phillips pinch-hit in the sixth and lined out. He is now 2-for-4 as a pinch-hitter this season.

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