Blue Raiders to face Salukis in midweek matchup

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - Middle Tennessee will play its final home games in the month of March this week before opening league play over the weekend. The Blue Raiders will play host to a two-game series with Southern Illinois on Tuesday, March 15 and Wednesday, March 16. Both games are slated for a 3 p.m. first pitch. The Salukis are 4-10 on the season and are on a four-game losing streak. SIU has also lost nine of its last 11 games. Middle Tennessee is 3-10 on the season coming off a win at Southeastern Conference foe Kentucky. The Blue Raiders are led at the plate by seniors Tyler Acker and Will Skinner who are currently batting over .400. Skinner leads the team in RBI with 15 and combined the pair have 15 extra base hits. The Blue Raiders' bullpen has struggled at times this season but strong performances last week gave the squad some life. R-freshman Paul Mittura picked up his first career win in a relief appearance at Kentucky while senior Jud Stoltz took his first career save in the same game. Middle Tennessee will then travel to Bowling Green, Ky., for its opening Sun Belt Conference series with Western Kentucky. The two teams will begin play on Friday, March 18 at 6 p.m. With the departure of New Orleans from the Sun Belt Conference the league's coaches decided to play an extra conference series instead of adding another non-conference weekend. Therefore each team will play their in-state or closest geographic conference opponent in two three-game series during the season. For Middle Tennessee that opponent is rival Western Kentucky. The games with SIU may be heard on the Blue Raider Network with Dick Palmer calling the action. Live stats and video may be found on goblueraiders.com.

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