Blue Raiders Break Records in 34-8 Win

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - Middle Tennessee set new records for runs and hits in a single game in a 34-8 win over Arkansas-Little Rock on Sunday in a game that was suspended 10-1 in the bottom of the third on Saturday.

Play resumed at 11:01 a.m. as Middle Tennessee (12-9-1, 5-5) had a double and a base on balls leaving two on base but not before putting five runs on the board. To begin the bottom of the third the Blue Raiders scored two runs on a double by freshman Bryce Brentz and a single by sophomore Grant Box. Freshman Justin Miller then hit a three-run home run in a steady rain to left field as Middle Tennessee took a 10-1 lead.

The weather delay did not affect the Blue Raiders at all as they added three more runs in the bottom of the fourth on a shot to left field by junior Taylor Dennis, his first of the season padding the lead 13-1. Sophomore Blake McDade added another run to the board as his double to right field scored senior Zach Barrett from first. The Blue Raiders took a 16-run lead as junior Zach Dean had a three-run double and then added two more making it 19-1 as Brentz hit a two-run home run to right field. The Blue Raiders ended the inning with 11 runs on nine hits taking a 21-1 lead over the Trojans (4-19, 1-8).

Senior Doug Birkofer's single to left field in the top of the ninth set the new hits in a single game record giving the Blue Raiders 29 hits. The record for hits in game was previously set in 2001 against Liscomb when the Blue Raiders had 28 hits.

Middle Tennessee kept scoring in the bottom of the fifth scoring nine runs on five hits and set a new runs in a single game record taking a 30-3 lead. The most runs scored previously by a Middle Tennessee team was 29 in 1989 against Tennessee Tech.

Junior Rawely Bishop led Middle Tennessee at the plate as he was 3 for 6 with six RBI and scored five runs. Sophomore Grant Box ended the day 4 for 5 with three RBI and scored four runs.

Sophomore Kenneth Roberts improved to 3-2 on the season as he allowed three runs on four hits in five innings of work.

UALR put a run on the board in the top of the first inning as Kroll scored from third on a double play groundball to Miller taking a 1-0 lead.

Bishop hit his second grand slam in four games to give the lead and then some to the Blue Raiders taking a 4-1 lead.

The Blue Raiders added another run in the bottom of the second and Dennis scored from third on a double by McDade.

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