Feb. 26, 2010
MURFREESBORO, Tenn.-The Middle Tennessee baseball team got RBIs from every starter en route to a 11-6 win over visiting Ohio Friday afternoon at Reese Smith Jr. Field in the first of a three-game series between the two teams.
MTSU improved to 2-1 overall, while Ohio dropped to 1-3.
The Blue Raiders displayed a balanced offensive attack with first baseman Blake McDade registering two RBIs while the rest of the lineup had one each. Ironically enough, McDade was the only starter without a hit, while third baseman Tyler Burnett had four hits and designated hitter Justin Guidry, left fielder Justin Jones and right fielder Stuart Meinhart all had three. Burnett also scored three runs.
Ohio right fielder Robert Maddox III and third baseman Seth Streich both drove in two runs. Maddox and designated hitter Trace Voshell had two hits.
Middle Tennessee's Nick Montgomery (1-0) came on in relief of starter Kenneth Roberts and picked up the win after shutting down the Ohio offense over the game's final four and one-third innings, allowing just a hit while striking out two and walking none. The Bobcats were able to rough up Roberts a bit, chasing him after four and two-thirds innings that saw him give up five earned runs on eight hits with four strikeouts and one walk.
Ohio starter Bryce Butt (0-1) suffered the loss in his 2010 debut, allowing seven earned runs on 13 hits with four strikeouts and one walk in five innings. Bobcat reliever Brett Barber had his second straight impressive outing the MTSU offense managed just one hit and one walk over the game's final two innings, while striking out three times against the Hurricane, W. Va. right hander. The 6'1 hurler has tossed five scoreless innings so far this season.
"We faced a pretty good lefthander again today," said Ohio head coach Joe Carbone. "Once again, we had a tough time getting out of the first and second innings before we were able to settle down. Overall, we didn't play bad defensively, but we have to get better. We had just one error but didn't get to some balls that we should have and that made a big difference late in the game. Offensively, we hit balls hard but they were right at people when we had runners on. As far as our pitching, Barber did well again so we're encouraged by that. All in all, it's still early and we're still finding out about our team."
MTSU scored three runs in their half of the first on four singles and added an error-aided unearned run in the second along with an RBI groundout to go up 5-0 through two frames.
Ohio roared back in its half of the fourth with five runs to tie the affair. Maddox scored Voshell with an RBI single down the left field line and catcher Kris McDonough dropped a double in the same area of the field to plate Maddox. Streich then added the big hit of the inning, a two-run triple to right to score McDonough and left fielder C.J. Maszal. Shortstop Wesley O'Neill tied the game at 5-all by knocking in Streich with an RBI groundout to short.
First baseman Jerod Yakubik gave the Bobcats the lead in the top of the fifth when he scored after Maddox reached on an error.
The Blue Raiders, though, were too much for Ohio down the stretch with three runs in the fifth, one in the sixth and two in the seventh. Bobcat relievers Rex Ingham and Marck Paliotto combined to record three outs, while surrendering three runs on five hits with Ingham's one strikeout and one walk.
The second game of the series is scheduled to begin Saturday at 3 p.m. ET (2 p.m. CT).
