Blue Raiders drop 5-3 decision to Lipscomb

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - Eric Gilley pitched a gem over the first seven innings for the Middle Tennessee baseball team, but a Lipscomb home run in the eighth led to a 5-3 victory for the Bisons over the Blue Raiders at Reese Smith Jr. Field on Tuesday evening.

"Gilley matched up very well against Lipscomb's hitters, and he pitched his best game of the season," head coach Steve Peterson said. "That was a very positive note for us. He had a quality start. It's disappointing that he couldn't get a win today."

Gilley made his third start of the season his best, going seven innings and allowing just one run off of three hits and a pair of walks. The senior also tallied a career-best eight strikeouts and put the side down in order in the first, fifth and sixth innings.

Hunter Adkins entered the game in the eighth and gave up back-to-back singles followed by a three-run home run two batters later, handing him his second loss of the season.

Paul Mittura recorded the final five outs, allowing one run and four hits.

Offensively, Middle Tennessee (1-7) was outhit 10-8 on the day by Lipscomb, and stranded 13 runners on base to the Bisons' eight.

After Lipscomb started things off with a run in the top of the third, Middle Tennessee responded in the bottom half of the frame. Hank LaRue led off with a single, and advanced to second after Ryan Ford reached on an error. Johnny Thomas advanced the runners with a sacrifice bunt, and a Justin Guidry groundout plated LaRue.

Middle Tennessee grabbed the lead an inning later. After Davis Pearce led off with a double, LaRue belted a two-out double to right to bring home Pearce and hand MT a 2-1 edge.

LaRue finished the day as the only Blue Raider with multiple hits, going 3-for-4 with a run scored and a run batted in.

The Blue Raiders doubled their lead in the seventh. Thomas led off with a double down the right field line and advanced to third on a Guidry single. A Tyler Acker sacrifice fly brought in the run.

Thomas ended 1-for-3 at the plate with a walk and a run scored. Acker was 1-for-two with a pair of walks and a run batted in.

After Lipscomb (6-3) put up three in the top of the eighth, Middle Tennessee looked to challenge in the bottom half. LaRue and Matthew Drake reached on back-to-back one-out singles, and a wild pitch put the duo on second and third. Thomas earned a two-out walk to load the bases, but Guidry flew out to left to end the threat.

Lipscomb tacked on an insurance run in the ninth, and the Blue Raiders would strand the tying run on first to end the game.

Middle Tennessee will now set off for a five-game road swing, beginning with a three-game series at Louisiana Tech this weekend. The series marks the first meeting between the two schools since 2001. First pitch on Friday is set for 6 p.m.

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