Raider Bats Explode for 13-8 Triumph

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - Wayne Kendrick had two hits, scored three times and drove in a pair of runs, and Tyler Copeland tossed 3.1 innings of relief to get the win in Middle Tennessee's 13-8 victory over Vanderbilt Tuesday night at Reese Smith Field.

The Blue Raiders (18-14) pounded out 14 hits, including home runs from Todd Martin and Nathan Hines, and the bullpen allowed just two runs in six innings of work for the team's 12th win in the last 15 games.

The game had 30 hits and 21 runs, with the Commodores (25-13) hitting four home runs, including back-to-back shots to start the game.

Middle Tennessee scored seven times in the first two innings, knocking out Vandy starter Nick Christiani (2-3), who took the loss. The righthander allowed six runs on five hits in 1.1 innings.

Copeland (4-1) gave up six runs but just one run in 3.1 innings to get the victory. Peter Mantzanis allowed a run and Shay Horseman got two outs before Allan Woodward worked 1.2 scoreless innings, striking out two.

Adam Warren had three hits and two RBIs for the Blue Raiders, while Jeff Beachum collected two hits and drove in three runs. Martin added a two-run homer and Nathan Hines provided a bit of insurance with a solo homer in the seventh.

The Commodores scored twice in the first on back-to-back home runs to leadoff from David Macias and Pedro Alvarez. It was the first of the season for Macias and the seventh for Alvarez in the last six games.

The Blue Raiders scored three times themselves in the bottom of the inning, starting with a leadoff double from Beachum. A grounder from Hines moved Beachum to third and Kendrick's walk put runners on the corners.

A sacrifice fly to leftcenter from Michael McKenry plated Beachum and Martin followed with another walk. Warren and Josh Horn had back-to-back singles, scoring a pair of runs for a 3-2 Middle Tennessee lead after an inning.

The Blue Raiders added four more runs in the second on four hits, starting with a fisted single to center from Chase Eakes. Hines was hit with one out before Kendrick laced a two-run double inside the first base bag. McKenry then blooped a double down the rightfield line for an RBI, and Warren's hot-shot past second baseman Alex Feinberg plated McKenry for a 7-2 advantage.

Vandy plated four runs in the third after Alvarez led off with a walk and Dominic de la Osa doubled to start the frame. A groundout and a sacrifice fly scored a pair of runs, but Shea Robin drew a two-out walk, keeping the inning alive. A double by Ryan Davis sailed over Warren's head in centerfield, scoring Robin, and Feinberg's single to center plated Davis, cutting the deficit to 7-6.

Middle Tennessee took a three-run lead in the fourth when Kendrick singled with one out and Martin drilled his ninth homer of the season over the wall in centerfield for a 9-6 advantage.

The Blue Raiders got three more in the fifth when Horn singled to leadoff, Marcus Taylor reached on an error and Eakes beat out a bunt to load the bases. Beachum then ripped a bases-clearing double down the leftfield line for a 12-6 lead.

Robin and pinch-hitter Matt Meingasner both had solo homers for the Commodores in the seventh, making it a four-run game, but Hines provided Middle Tennessee some insurance with his own solo homer, his second of the year, in the bottom of the seventh.

The Blue Raiders open a three-game series at South Alabama this weekend, starting Friday at 6 p.m. at Stanky Field.

GAME NOTES
Jeff Beachum extended his hitting streak to 10 games with a double to leadoff the first ... Adam Warren extended his hitting streak to eight games with a single in the first.

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