CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. - Sophomore Blake McDade helped break open the game for the Blue Raiders with his grand slam in the sixth inning as Middle Tennessee took an 18-10 win on Monday night.
McDade ended the day 4 for 6 with five RBI, a grand slam and scored two runs.
Junior Nathan Hines added assistance at the plate for the Blue Raiders (25-21-1) as he went 4 for 6 with two RBI and scored three runs. Sophomore Zach Hudson also helped with his three hits. Hudson also scored two runs and drove in another.
Freshman Marshall Mears received his first collegiate start on the mound against the Govs (23-24) going two and two-thirds innings allowing six runs on six hits with two strikeouts.
Senior Brad Robinson (3-5) picked up the win with his five innings of relief work. Robinson allowed three runs on 10 hits with five strikeouts.
Freshman Jud Stoltz was the only other Blue Raider pitcher used in relief as he allowed one run on three hits in one and one-third innings of work.
Austin Peay put the first run on the board in the first as a single by Bachman to score Rafael Hill from second. Two batters later, Matt Kole hit a two run shot to extend the Govs' lead to three.
Dennis cut the lead to two with his RBI fielder's choice in the top of the second. Then in the top of the third, freshman Bryce Brentz closed the gap to one making it 3-2 with his solo shot to centerfield.
The Govs scored two more on a double to centerfield and another on a single to left taking a 6-2 lead. Brentz hit a long ball to left field in his next at bat to cut the lead to two in the top of the fifth.
With runners at first and third Hudson hit a single that fell in a gap in short right field to bring in the runner from third and make it a one run game. Then Brentz hit a chopper to third that was mishandled by the third baseman with the bases loaded to tie the game at 6.
Hines put Middle Tennessee ahead with his single to left which the left fielder mishandled allowing two runs to score and put the Blue Raiders up 8-6. Watson added two more insurance runs for Middle Tennessee with his single to right field making it 10-6. McDade broke it open with a two-out grand slam extending the lead to four. The Blue Raiders sent 15 batters to the plate in the sixth scoring 11 runs on eight hits to take a 15-6 lead.
The Govs cut the lead in the bottom of the eighth mounting a small rally scoring three runs on four hits as Middle Tennessee stayed ahead 15-9.
Middle Tennessee answered in the top of the ninth scoring three runs of its own on two hits.
Middle Tennessee will be back in action on Tuesday and Wednesday May 6 and 7 at 6 p.m. when it plays Mississippi State in a two-game series in Winchester, Tenn.
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