Roberts tosses complete game in 8-0 win

Roberts worked a complete game shutout, the first of his career, improving to 4-4 on the season. It is the fifth complete game of his career. The Murfreesboro, Tenn., native allowed nine hits, just one for extra bases, did not allow a walk and struck out five batters in the outing.

"We were all pulling for Kenny and Drew to get that shutout. A catcher is so involved in getting the shutout so when we can go into the night able to get that shutout and then to have a great diving catch it just shows you how much it meant for everyone to get that shutout," head coach Steve Peterson said. "That really means a lot to me because I just covet a shutout. Being an ex-catcher it helps so many things and for guys may not have swung the bat well but they do what they have to for the shutout."

The Blue Raider (31-19, 15-10) offense backed-up Roberts' impressive performance with a number of its own. Junior Bryce Brentz hit a grand slam in the sixth to break the game open for Middle Tennessee. The Knoxville, Tenn., native ended the night 3 for 5 with a home run and four RBI. Defensively, he caught a ball to deep right centerfield and held onto it after falling to end the game.

Senior Blake McDade went 3 for 5 and scored a run while junior Justin Miller and freshman Ryan Ford each had two hits on the night. Miller had a two-run home run to begin the scoring for Middle Tennessee while Ford hit a triple, drove in a run and scored two runs.

Middle Tennessee scored first after Ford drove in Robertson from first with his triple to right center. Then Hudson brought in Ford with his sacrifice fly to right field giving the Blue Raiders a 2-0 lead.

In the third, Middle Tennessee added two more runs after a two-run home run to left field by Miller.

Brentz broke the game open in the sixth with a grand slam to right centerfield extending the Blue Raider lead to eight.

The Blue Raiders will honor their seniors in a pre-game ceremony prior to the start of the second game of the series with New Orleans which is scheduled for 4 p.m.

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