Junior Grant Box led off the bottom of the eighth with a solo home run. Then with runners at first and second who reached on errors sophomore Blake McDade hit a three-run home run to right field stretch the lead again.

Box ended the day 1 for 2 with one RBI and scored two runs while McDade went 2 for 4 with three RBI and scored two runs.

With the win, Middle Tennessee improves to 6-0-1 while Toledo falls to 1-3. The Blue Raiders are the first team since records dating back to 1974, records are incomplete before then, to start the season undefeated seven games in. The best start to a season prior to 2008 was 1990 when the Blue Raiders went 5-2 in their first seven games.

Senior Brad Robinson recorded his first win of the season as he pitched four innings in relief allowing two runs on three hits with four strikeouts.

Junior Jordan Alvis received the start as he worked five innings allowing four runs on four hits, three earned runs and two strikeouts.

"I was very unhappy with some at bats and obviously very happy with some other at bats. Zach Dean, right now, is giving us some big at bats. Defensively we are very solid. Things are going well; we just have to get more consistent pitching in the strike zone. Hopefully with time this will come as they pitch more and more because the hot hitting will cool off as the pitching gets better and better," head coach Peterson said.

Also contributing to the Blue Raider offense was senior Zach Barrett who was 3 for 4 with three RBI, a home run and scored three runs.

As a team, Middle Tennessee hit four home runs and three doubles on its way to notching 13 hits on the day.

Toledo started the game with a grand slam by Dudley to take a 4-0 lead with one out.

Junior Rawley Bishop singled to right field which scored freshman Bryce Brentz from second to put a run on the board for the Blue Raiders, 4-1.

Brentz tied the game at four with his three-run double in the bottom of the third inning.

"Our goal is to win every game but to get better every day. We have a lot of good things going and are able to use a number of players. I think the biggest thing it shows the club is that just because you get down does not mean you are going to get beat," Peterson said.

Junior Zach Dean broke the tie for the Blue Raiders in the bottom of the sixth as he hit a solo home run to right field, 5-4 MT. Toledo's Calvin Gunter balked which scored a Blue Raider run from third to pad the lead. Barrett broke the game open on the next play as he hit a three-run home run giving Middle Tennessee a 9-4 lead.

Toledo's Dan Sherwood hit a solo home run to add to the Rockets' runs, 9-5 and Jared Hoying double to bring in Satterlee closing the gap to three, 9-6 MT.

Middle Tennessee will be back in action on Sunday, March 2 when it faces Toledo at 1 p.m. The Blue Raiders will be looking for the sweep as Dick Palmer calls the play-by-play for the Blue Raider Network on WMTS 88.3 FM.

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