Bobo Says No-No in Win Over Lipscomb

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - Middle Tennessee (7-3) junior hurler Crystal Bobo tossed the first no-hitter of the season in the Lady Raiders 9-0 win in the first game against Lipscomb (9-11) Thursday.

Bobo started shaky opening the game with two walks, but settled down and sat down 14 consecutive batters before Lipscomb got another base runner. Jenni Anderson was only the third Lipscomb batter to get on base when Bobo hit her on the elbow. Overall, Bobo improves her record to 4-1 on the year.

While Bobo was shutting them down, the Middle Tennessee offense was trying to get started. The Lady Raiders got one run to start the game when Jen Dorais and Cortney Mitchell hit back-to-back doubles and Dorias scored.

Dorias scored her second run of the game off an RBI single by Leah Grothause to make the score 2-0. It was a close game until the bottom of the fifth when the wheels came off for Lipscomb as the Lady Raiders scored seven runs to end the game after five innings.

Katie Tompkins ended the game when she hit a two run homer over the right field wall for her first round tripper of the season. The Lady Raiders had eight hits in the game and didn't commit an error. Dorais led team, going 2-of-3 with two runs scored.

In the second game, it was Lipscomb's turn to light up the scoreboard as starting Lady Raider pitcher Muriel Ledbetter gave up all five of the Lipscomb runs in her 1.1 innings of work. In the middle of the second, freshman Trish White faced two batters before Bobo re-entered the game.

Bobo shut Lipscomb down in the final 5.1 innings of work, facing 18 batters and not allowing a hit or a run. She recorded eight strikeouts in the game and has not allowed a run in 26.1 consecutive innings.

The Lady Raiders finally got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the fourth off a Mitchell homerun over the right field wall. It is her second homerun of the season and ninth in her career, which is good for third place in the Lady Raider record books.

Mitchell also began a three run sixth inning as she hit a double to the center field wall and consecutive singles by Brittany Herald and Leah Grothause loaded the bases for catcher Angie Huebner. A three RBI double by Huebner cleared the bases and pulled the Lady Raiders within one run, 5-4, but the Lady Raiders failed to get Huebner home to tie the game.

Lipscomb pitcher Sara Meek came into the game in relief at the bottom of the sixth inning, and threw 1.2 innings to keep the Lady Raiders at bay. She recorded the save in the game and Danielle Catalano picked up the win. Ledbetter took the loss and falls to 0-1.

Middle Tennessee returns to action on Tuesday when the Lady Raiders travel to Tennessee State. First pitch is set for 2 p.m.

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