Woodruff hits walk off against South Alabama

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - Kelsey Woodruff continued to amaze Blue Raider crowds, propelling Middle Tennessee to victory over South Alabama, 3-1 in the first game of a Saturday doubleheader at Blue Raider Field.

On a bright, sunny-day with swirling winds blowing all afternoon, the Blue Raiders battled the Jaguars to split the doubleheader. Sunday's rubber-match will begin at noon.

The first game was a tightly contested affair that saw MT taking a 3-1 decision in their 11th win of the season.

After multiple walk-off defeats earlier in the season, the Blue Raiders final got one off their own. In the bottom of the seventh with the score knotted at 1-1, Woodruff blasted her fourth long-ball over the leftfield wall to plate herself and Nina Davenport. Davenport worked a tremendous 11-pitch at bat with two out with Woodruff on-deck. She would single to right to get Woodruff the at bat. This was Middle Tennessee's second walk-off home run of the season.

The first six and a half innings of the game featured a masterful pitcher's duel between Jordyn Fisherback and USA's Morgan Druhan. Fisherback went the distance, giving up just one run and four hits. She also had six strikeouts and three walks in her seventh win of the year.

Kayla Toney got her 14 RBI on the season, when see singled in the bottom of the fourth to plate Kandra Singleton from second.

In the second game, Middle Tennessee did not have answer for South Alabama pitcher Hannah Campbell. Campbell held MT to just one base runner in her first career no-hitter. USA won 8-0.

Kelsey Dortch had the highlight of the game for the Blue Raiders. Amidst the swirling winds, the centerfield leapt above the wall to rob a home run off the bat of Christine Crocker.

Costly errors were crucial in the loss.

Middle Tennessee moves to 11-22 on the season, including a 5-9 mark in conference.

Coverage of Sunday's finale with USA will be available on GoBlueRaiders.com and Twitter.com/MT_Softball.

Follow the Blue Raiders on Twitter @MTAthletics for continued updates.