After a night where nothing went the Blue Raiders' way, Middle Tennessee (33-13, 19-7) came back on Saturday with a very sound pitching, defensive and offensive game.

Junior Kenneth Roberts (6-1) took the win after going the distance allowing one run on two hits with three strikeouts. Roberts had a no-hitter going through 6.2 innings before giving up the first of two hits on the night to Troy (26-19, 13-8). It was the longest outing of Roberts' career as he picked up the complete game on a strikeout looking.

"We are one of the top pitching and defending teams in the league but I always say you live and die by the bat. Kenneth Roberts dominated their bats tonight throughout the line-up," head coach Steve Peterson said.

Roberts was backed up on the mound by the defense who got 19 groundball outs with just two outfield fly outs the entire game.

"We had some great plays by Taylor, Rawley and Ben. What we are finding out about the surface here is that the more the ball rolls the slower it gets. Kenneth flirted with a no-hitter and the two hits he gave up were well hit. He performed very well tonight and the defense backed him up," Peterson said.

The Blue Raiders had 17 hits on the night with seniors Rawley Bishop and Nathan Hines and sophomore Tyler Burnett all having three hits on the night. Hines and Burnett each had one RBI while Hines and Bishop each scored two runs.

The Blue Raiders had just two hits for extra bases as Hines and senior Zach Dean each had doubles. Dean, junior Blake McDade and sophomore Bryce Brentz all added assistance at the plate as they notched two hits each. Brentz also scored two runs while Dean drove in three.

Troy's two hits were both doubles by Ryan Ditthardt and Trevor Tyre. On the mound, Jason Walls took the loss after allowing four runs on six hits in three innings of work. The Trojans used four pitchers in the game who worked a combined six innings allowing four runs on 11 hits.

The Blue Raiders got on the board first after a double to left center by Dean brought in Bishop and Brentz from second and third to take a 2-0 lead in the second inning.

Brentz hit a fly ball to centerfield allowing Hines to score from third as MT took a 3-0 lead in the third. Then with the bases loaded Walls walked Dean to add another run to the Blue Raider total.

The Blue Raiders added another run in the seventh after a sacrifice fly by McDade allowed Hines, who doubled, to score from third.

Troy scored its first run in the seventh after a double by Tyre brought in Ditthart from second closing the gap, 5-1.

A single to left center by Hines in the eighth extended the Blue Raider lead to five as Hudson, pinch running for Dean, scored from second.

Middle Tennessee added two runs in the top of the ninth on four hits.

Middle Tennessee will play the - game of its weekend series with the Trojans on Sunday, May 3 at 1 p.m.

Print this article

Comments