TROY, Ala. - Lindsey Vander Lugt passed Jennifer Martinez for most appearances in Middle Tennessee history with 135 in a 5-0 lose to Troy in the first game of a doubleheader on Wednesday in Troy, Ala. The team could not pull out the victory in the second half of the doubleheader, falling 4-2 and dropping to 2-5 on the season.
In the first contest, Vander Lugt pitched 4.1 innings of work, striking-outing five Trojan batters while giving up seven hits, and four runs, two earned. Three Middle Tennessee errors were costly in the first contest, resulting to three unearned Troy runs.
"You are going to see a lot more of Lindsey," said head coach Sue Nevar. "She is our best weapon and we have to go to her as much as possible to get some wins. Keep the record book open."
Troy's Ashlyn Williams gave the Blue Raider hitters nightmares, striking out 15 batters in the opening game. Williams would tally three more K's in relief in the second contest.
"Ashlyn Williams is a phenomenal pitcher. There is a reason she was the 2009 Sun Belt Pitcher of the Year. However, we must make the necessary adjustments to keep get hits and score runs tomorrow."
Middle Tennessee had chances in the fourth and fifth innings with multiple runners in scoring position in both frames of the first game.
MT applied pressure in the top of the fourth, with Caitlin McLure, Natalie Ysais and Corrie Abel quickly loading the bases no outs. Unfortunately, Williams struck out the next three MT batters to end the rally.
In the fifth, Kelsey Dortch and Brittney Banania quickly moved into scoring position with one out, but teammates were unable to bring either across the plate. Middle Tennessee finished the first game with no runs, three hits, three errors and seven runners left on base.
"We are not finishing the innings like we need to. Too many runners are being left on base. These are opportunities we cannot let slip past us."
The second game was highlighted by a two run rally in the top fifth inning as the team brought the only two runs of the day across the plate. Two consecutive Trojan errors to McLure and Ashia Terry set up Ysais to knock in McLure tallying the only RBI of the games for the Raiders and first of the season for the Riverside, Calif. native. A passed ball by the relieving Williams allowed Terry to come home and score. Ysais currently has a three game hitting streak.
Caty Jutson gave up four earned runs in the second contest, two earned, with one strikeout and a walk.
"Our pitchers threw well today, but we are not scoring runs to help them."
McLure notched her fourth stolen base of the season in the first game, then her fifth in the second game giving her 50 for her career moving within two steals of Kim Blair for fourth most in Middle Tennessee history.
The Blue Raiders will conclude the series verses Troy tomorrow trying to avoid the series sweep, first pitch at noon. Full livestats, results and coverage will be available on GoBlueRaiders.com.
Print this article
