Blue Raiders ready for series with FIU

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - Middle Tennessee will look to use its 8-0 win over Vanderbilt as confidence headed into its weekend series with Florida International.

• Video: Coach Peterson Interview

The Blue Raiders (22-7, 11-4) are looking to rebound in Sun Belt conference play after being swept by UL-Lafayette last weekend. Middle Tennessee is second in the league behind Western Kentucky while the Golden Panthers (19-10, 8-4) are third.

Middle Tennessee had not lost more than one game at a time until its series with the Ragin' Cajuns and had only lost one league game before the series.

FIU heads into the weekend on a two-game losing after falling to Stetson and Florida Gulf Coast in midweek action. The Golden Panthers took 2 of 3 from Western Kentucky at home last weekend.

Sophomore Bryce Brentz has proven to be a force in Sun Belt conference action as he leads the team at the plate and on the mound. Brentz is batting .395 with 17 hits, six home runs, 14 RBI and has a slugging percentage of .930 in league play. The Knoxville, Tenn., native also leads Middle Tennessee on the mound in SBC play as he is second on the team with a 4.19 ERA with 23 strikeouts in 34.1 innings of work.

The Blue Raiders will also look to seniors Rawley Bishop and Nathan Hines and juniors Drew Robertson and Stuart Meinhart to guide the offense against FIU.

All four are currently batting over .300 with Robertson leading the pack as he is batting .413 with 43 hits, 12 doubles, 17 RBI and has scored 27 runs.

The Blue Raiders will square off at 6 p.m. on Friday, April 10 at Reese Smith Jr. Field to begin the three-game series. The second game of the series on Saturday, April 11 is set for 3 p.m. and will be broadcast on CSS as the Sun Belt Game of the Week. The final game of the series will be played at 12 p.m. on Sunday, April 12.

All games will be broadcast on 88.3 FM in Murfreesboro, Tenn., and on the internet as linked on goblueraiders.com.

Series: MT leads the series 13-11; Peterson is 13-11 against FIU. Last Meeting: The Blue Raiders defeated FIU 11-8 on April 13, 2008 in the final game of the series. Middle Tennessee swept the series in 2008.

Projected Weekend Rotation Friday FIU: RHP, Scott Rembisz MT: RHP, Bryce Brentz

Saturday FIU: RHP, Tom Ebert MT: LHP, Kenneth Roberts

Sunday FIU: LHP, Corey Polizzao MT: TBA

Major League update: Former Blue Raider Brett Carroll has made the Florida Marlins roster to begin the 2009 Major League Baseball season. Carroll entered the game in the late innings on opening day for the Marlins, who defeated Washington 12-6. Carroll ended the game 1 for 2 and scored a run. Carroll has now played in all three games for the Marlins who swept Washington to begin the season. On Wednesday night, Carroll caught a fly ball to left field to record the final out and seal the sweep.

Follow the Blue Raiders on Twitter @MTAthletics for continued updates.