COOKEVILLE, Tenn. - Middle Tennessee and Tennessee Tech traded runs through out the game which ended in a 6-6 tie in the seventh because of weather conditions in the area.
TTU (2-1-1) hit back to back home runs in the bottom of the sixth to tie the game with the Blue Raiders (3-0-1) at 6-6 as Thomas Nelson hit a home run while Jake New followed with one of his own.
"The infield was in great shape, it didn't affect the field of play at all. You have to understand the element were terrible. It was cold, very windy, rain, sleet and then snow. The outfield was very soft and it gave us runs. It hurt Tech but it wasn't anything defensively that hurt us. I thought we missed some balls where we should have gotten two outs but we got one," head coach Steve Peterson said.
Middle Tennessee has not had a game end in a tie since 1989 when Peterson's team tied with North Alabama in the third game of the season, 4-4. There were just six tie games in Blue Raider history prior to Tuesday night's game.
Junior Nathan Hines ended the day 3 for 5 with two doubles, two RBI and scored one run. Junior Talyor Dennis went 1 for 2 as he scored two runs and hit the first triple of his career. Dennis' triple came in the top of the seventh to lead off the inning but the Golden Eagles got out of the situation without allowing him to score.
"We had an opportunity to get a win with Taylor's triple but they stepped up and got out of the inning. I compliment both teams to go out, play in conditions like this because it was not easy to play," Peterson said.
Freshman Bryce Brentz started his first game on the mound as he went three innings allowing three runs on four hits. Senior Brad Robinson pitched three innings of relief as he allowed three runs on five hits.
"He hurt himself. He has a good arm if he can locate his fastball he would have more success. You look to your starter to go five innings but he ran his pitch count up pretty quick and just wasn't very effective," Peterson said.
Sophomore Myles Ervin drove in three runs with his double as he ended the day 1 for 4 with three RBI and scored one run.
As a team the Blue Raiders posted nine hits while TTU had 11 which is the first time this season an opposing team has had more hits.
Tennessee Tech started the scoring putting one run on the board after a passed ball by Robertson. Then took a 2-0 lead after a groundball to the shortstop scored the runner from third.
Middle Tennessee responded in the second with a run of its own as Hines singled to left field to bring in Dennis from third, who received a base on balls to reach, 2-1 TTU.
The Blue Raiders added five runs on four hits in the top of the third to take a 6-2 lead. Ervin cleared the bases with his three-run double which scored Dennis, Brentz and Bishop. Ervin then scored to put another run on the board after Hines singled to right field. Then McDade hit a double down the right field line which brought in Hines to round out the scoring for the Blue Raiders.
The Golden Eagles put another run on the board in the third on a groundball to Ervin which scored a runner from third, 6-3. In the fourth, TTU scored one run on a fielder's choice to close the gap to two, 6-4.
Middle Tennessee will be back in action on Thursday, Feb. 28 when it travels to Nashville, Tenn., to play Belmont at 2 p.m.
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