Williams Ks 16 in 5-4 MT Win

John Williams struck out a career-best 15 Governors on Saturday afternoon, but he had to wait until the bottom of the eighth inning to see how the game would turn out.

In that frame, freshman Josh Archer blasted a solo homer over the left field wall to put the Blue Raiders ahead 5-4. Williams (4-0) came back for the ninth inning and finished up with a perfect inning to preserve the win and push the Blue Raider winning streak to five games and the team's overall record to 15-5.

Williams came out of the gate strong, keeping the visitors hitless through the first three innings.

However, Williams ran into trouble in the top of the fourth. Michael Johnson led off the inning with a solo homer before Williams rallied to retire the next two hitters. A Middle Tennessee error kept the inning alive for the Govs and a single from Frank Kunich brought the second run of the inning across.

The Govs struck again in the top of the fifth. Austin Peay put together another two-out rally after a walk from Williams extended the inning. Three straight singles and a stolen base plated two more runs.

Then it was the Blue Raiders' turn to get going offensively.

A one-out error put Nate Jaggers aboard and a walk from Justin Sims put runners at first and second. Marshall Nisbett put the Blue Raiders on the board with a double to right center, pushing Jaggers across the plate. Archer hit a stinger toward third that resulted in an error and the second MT run.

Kevin Suba delivered a single that plated Nisbett and put the Blue Raiders within a run. Kris Smith knotted the score with a single to right field an put both teams back to square one with three innings to play.

The Blue Raiders finally broke through in the bottom of the eighth with Archer's monumental blast.

Marshall Nisbett led the Blue Raiders with a 3-for-4 effort at the plate while Josh Archer went 2-for-4.

Reliever Casey Callaway took the loss for the Govs to drop to 1-1 on the year.

Middle Tennessee will now travel to Clarksville to complete the three-game series with a 2 PM contest. The Blue Raiders were return home to face Troy State on Tuesday and Wednesday before traveling to New Orleans to begin Sun Belt play next weekend.

NOTES: Williams' 16 strikeouts is the most for a Blue Raider since Dewon Brazelton tallied the same number against Western Kentucky a year ago - the Blue Raiders collected 10 hits in the game, meaning that MT has had 10 or more hits in 18 games this season - Jeremy Armstrong is the scheduled starter in Clarksville on Sunday - Armstrong will be making his first career start.

Friend of the Blue Raiders? Like us on Facebook and become part of the True Blue army today.