Solid pitching guides Blue Raiders to 4-3 win

BOCA RATON, Fla. - Florida Atlantic mounted a three-run rally in the bottom of the ninth but the Blue Raiders held on for a 4-3 win on Easter Sunday taking the weekend series 2-1.

The Blue Raiders entered the bottom of the ninth with a 4-0 lead but FAU would not go down easily scoring three runs on five hits when head coach Steve Peterson brought sophomore Justin Guidry in from the bullpen.

Guidry who started the game as the designated hitter came into pitch with two outs and the only batter he faced popped out to the shortstop. Guidry picked up his first save of the season and added two hits for the Blue Raider offense.

Junior Eric Gilley had a perfect game and no-hitter through the fourth inning and only gave up three hits in the game as he improved to 3-0 on the season. Gilley worked five innings and struck out four batters.

Senior Kevin Whittaker worked three scoreless innings before allowing three runs in the ninth. Whittaker allowed eight hits in the outing while striking out two.

"It is a huge series win for us. In the fifth inning I look up and we are up 4-0 with 10 hits. There were a number of miscues and other things where we could have easily been up 6-0. Then I look at FAU and they had opportunity after opportunity and I know they have to be very disappointed in their production," Peterson said. "I give our defense, Eric Gilley and Kevin Whittaker a lot of credit and they did an outstanding job today."

Senior Zach Hudson led the offense going 4 for 5 with a double, two RBI and scored a run. Junior Will Skinner also performed well at the plate recording two hits.

The Blue Raiders had 12 hits on the day with all but two players in the starting line-up recording hits.

Middle Tennessee has now won all but one of its Sun Belt Conference series this season improving to 7-5 in Sun Belt action and 18-10 on the season.

The Blue Raiders got on the board first as a single to left by Burnett brought in Robertson from second. A single by Hudson scored Ford from third giving the team a two run lead, 2-0. Middle Tennessee scored two runs on four hits in the top of the third.

Hudson doubled to deep centerfield with out in the top of the fifth bringing in Ford from third adding to the Blue Raider total. Ford reached base after a leadoff double to the right field line. A sacrifice fly by Miller brought in Hudson from third for another Blue Raider run. Middle Tennessee ended the inning scoring two runs on three hits extending its lead to four, 4-0.

FAU scored its first run of the game in the ninth after a groundout by Keller scored Scheffler from third. Then a double by Burkhalter scored Delguidice from first adding another run and cutting the Blue Raider lead to two, 4-2. Then an infield hit on a popup in shallow right allowed Burkhalter to score from second and make it a one run game.

Middle Tennessee returns to action next week playing host to four games at Reese Smith Jr. Field. The Blue Raiders will face Austin Peay on Wednesday, April 7 at 6 p.m. Then Middle Tennessee will have Florida International in Sun Belt Conference action in a three-game weekend series.

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