Raiders Fall 6-0 at Missouri State

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - Middle Tennessee's Matt Scott took a shutout into the seventh, but Missouri State's Ross Detweiler matched Scott pitch-for-pitch and the homestanding Bears scored six times in the seventh to take a 6-0 victory Friday at Hammond Field in Springfield, Mo., in the first of a three-game series.

The loss is the fourth in-a-row for Middle Tennessee (3-7) and extended Missouri State's winning streak to 11 overall in the series in Springfield. The Blue Raiders have never defeated the Bears on the road in the series.

Scott allowed just two hits through the first six innings before walking the first two batters of the seventh, Nolan Keane and Kyle Paul. Reliever Brett Reilley entered the contest and loaded the bases with another walk, this one to MSU's Clay Coulter.

After a strikeout, pinch-hitter Shane Elenz doubled home two runs against reliever Josh Anderson before an intentional walk to Ryan Mantle loaded the bases again. Tann Mattson plated Coulter with a sacrifice fly against the fourth Blue Raider pitcher of the inning, Nick Marrs, for a 3-0 Bears advantage.

Then all of the fun starter, as Ben Woodbury's grounder was booted by shortstop Matt Ray, allowing another run to come across before Matt Lawson's two-run triple plated both Mantle and Woodbury for a 6-0 Missouri State lead.

MSU managed just five hits against the four Blue Raider pitchers, who struck out seven but walked five. Scott (1-1) allowed two runs on two hits, striking out five in six-plus innings of work.

Detweiler (1-0), a projected first-round selection in this June's draft, was just as impressive, giving up two hits in seven innings, walking three and striking out seven.

The Blue Raiders managed just two runners in scoring position before threatening to take the lead in the top of the seventh.

Adam Warren singled to leadoff and Rawley Bishop followed with a walk, but Warren was forced out at third on a Myles Ervin sacrifice attempt. Blake McDade then bounced into a fielder's choice before Matt Campbell walked to load the bases with two outs. But Zach Barrett struck out to end the threat.

Warren collected two of Middle Tennessee's four hits in the outing. The Blue Raiders have four games already this year with five or fewer hits in a contest, including the last two.

The two teams square off again Saturday at 2 p.m., with Middle Tennessee lefthander Shay Horseman facing Missouri State righthander Scott Carroll.

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