JONESBORO, Ark. - Blake Denischuk's three-run homer capped a four-run fifth inning and lead Arkansas State to a 5-1 victory over Middle Tennessee Sunday afternoon at Tomlinson Stadium.

The Blue Raiders held a 1-0 lead heading into the fourth before the homestanding Indians scored four times and never looked back.

The Blue Raiders got on the board in the first for the third straight game, as Chuck Akers reached on a one-out error by ASU shortstop Matt Rogelstad. Josh Archer then tripled high off the wall in leftcenter, missing a home run by a couple of feet. Akers came all the way around to score for a 1-0 Middle Tennessee lead.

The Indians came right back to load the bases with no outs in their half of the first, as Brad Hayes and Denischuk both singled, though the latter was a bad-hop job that got by Nate Jaggers at second base. Matt Rogelstad then walked to load the bases before one of the strangest plays ever seen in a baseball game.

Blue Raider starter Chris Mobley got ahead of Zach Shipley one and two and threw a curveball that went behind the batter. But Shipley did not get the bat down, and the ball popped in front of the plate. Mobley fielded it, tossed to catcher Derek Phillips for the force at home, and Phillips completed the doubleplay with a throw to first. Mobley then struck out Dusty Sexton to end the inning unscathed.

Neither team had many chances until the Blue Raiders got a pair of walks to Shane Kemp and Jeff Beachum with one out in the fifth, but Chuck Akers struck out and Kemp was thrown out on the double steal to end the threat.

The Indians got a leadoff double from George Sterner to lead off the bottom of the fifth. Justin Glenn advanced the runner with a sacrifice bunt before Mobley uncorked a wild pitch. The ball hit hard off the backstop and Phillips tossed to Mobley for the tag, but the hurler dropped the ball, allowing Sterner to tie the game at one.

ASU was not done in the inning, as Adam Roberson and Hayes both singled to put runners on the corners with one out. Denischuk then belted a 3-2 pitch just over the wall in rightcenter, giving the Indians a 4-1 lead and chasing Mobley from the game. It was Denischuk's third home run in three games this weekend.

The Indians added to the lead with a leadoff home run in the seventh by Hayes off reliever Chase Swing, giving ASU a 5-1 advantage.

ASU starter John Anderson (3-4) allowed just an unearned run in the first, working seven innings while striking out four. Anderson walked two and gave up five hits. Indian reliever Ryan Hamilton gave up a hit and struck out two in the eighth before Blake Ring worked himself out of a jam in the ninth.

Mobley (1-3) allowed four runs on seven hits, walking two and striking out five. The sophomore worked out of a jam in the first and around at least one base runner in every inning. He was making his first start of the season and just the third of his career.

The Blue Raiders start a seven-game homestand Tuesday with a 7 p.m. contest against Vanderbilt at Reese Smith Field. Middle Tennessee also hosts Southeast Missouri Wednesday at 3 p.m. Fifteen track seniors will be honored prior to Wednesday's contest, which will also be shown locally on MT TV-10.

GAME NOTES

Sophomore Chris Mobley drew his first start of the year and just the third of his career Sunday. The righthander's start was also his first in a conference game ... Jerry Knox drew his fourth start at designated hitter in the contest ... The Blue Raiders used their 29^th different lineup in 35 games this season on Sunday ... Josh Archer's triple in the first extended his hitting streak to five games ... A single in the third by Nate Jaggers extended his hitting streak to six games ... Derek Phillips extended his hitting streak to five games with a single in the ninth.

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