Blue Raiders Drop 12-4 Decision Against SMS

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. - Middle Tennessee's misery in Missouri continued here as the Blue Raiders suffered a 12-4 setback against Southwest Missouri in the first of a three-game series at Hammons Field.

SMS (5-11) scored three in the second and tacked on four in the third to stake claim to a 7-0 lead and never looked back as it improved to 14-4 all-time against the Blue Raiders (8-7), including an 8-0 mark against Middle Tennessee in Springfield.

"The disappointing thing is we did not compete," Middle Tennessee Head Coach Steve Peterson said. "The one thing I've learned in baseball is when the game is over, win or lose, you have to put it behind you and move on because you are playing again tomorrow. We have to move on and hopefully we will be a better baseball team (Saturday)."

Middle Tennessee's usually potent offense had difficulty mustering any offense against SMS sophomore righty Brett Sinkbeil (2-4), who went six innings, scattered three hits, struck out five and walked two. The Bears led 10-0 when he exited after six strong innings of work.

The Blue Raiders scored all four of their runs in the eighth with Eric McNamee, Jeff Beachum, Nate Jaggers and Marcus Taylor all reaching and coming around to score. The big hits in the inning were a RBI double by Adam Warren and a run-producing hit off the bat of Jaggers.

Warren was the only Middle Tennessee player with two hits, coming off the bench to go 2-for-2.

SMS struck for three runs in the second and then chased Middle Tennessee starter Allen Woodward (0-1) with four more runs in the third. The Bears, who scored in all but two innings, also put up one run in the fifth, two in the sixth, one in the seventh and another in the eighth to open the series in strong fashion.

Middle Tennessee sophomore right-hander Matt Scott is the scheduled starter for Saturday's game. First pitch is set for 2 p.m.

NOTES: Jeff Beachum extended his hitting streak to eight games with an eighth-inning single ... Michael McKenry's nine-game hitting streak ended, as he was 0-for-3 before giving way to freshman Alex Watson ... Middle Tennessee fell to 0-8 all-time against the Bears in Springfield, Mo. ... The Blue Raiders had seven hits as a team, marking just the fifth time in 15 games they failed to produce double-figure hits.

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