MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – Middle Tennessee will make its second trip of the short fall season, traveling to Lipscomb University Saturday to play a doubleheader starting at 1 p.m.
The Blue Raiders split the first two games of the fall slate, losing to Ole Miss 4-0 while beating Volunteer State Community College 8-0 in the nightcap. Against Ole Miss, the Blue Raiders used the arms of Caitlin McClure and Jordyn Fisherback, MT’s top-two returning pitchers from 2013.
McClure was handed the loss after giving up two runs, one earned through four. Fisherback came in relief in a warm-up for game two, throwing the final three innings, giving up two earned runs.
Mckenna Miller and Lindsey Fenner each had hits for the Blue Raiders and as a team MT drew six walks with patience at the plate.
Game two was a different affair as Fisherback handled the VSCC attack easily, striking out two while not walking a runner through three. Shelby Stinnett came in relief, closing out the final four innings while only giving up two-hits with one walk.
The Blue Raider offense started early scoring three runs in the second inning and added two-runs in the fifth off a Laura Dukes home run. After a leadoff double by Nina Dever in the seventh, MT used singles by Miller and Aubrey Crowell to score two more.
Last season, MT played Lipscomb in a 10-3 scoring affair that saw the Blue Raiders on the losing end. Kayla Toney hit what was her fourth home run of the year in the first inning, giving MT the early 1-0 lead. The Blue Raiders gave up their lead in the second inning allowing four runs.
Niki Campbell and Katie Brown each accounted for an RBI. Campbell hit an RBI double to left center in the 3rd while Brown hit a double of her own in the 6th.
In last season’s battle, Stinnet was handed the loss after pitching through the first four innings, giving up three earned runs.
The Lady Bisons have already played four games of their fall schedule, sweeping Tennessee State Sept. 28, by scores of 1-0 and 6-0, and beating Belmont Oct. 5, by scores of 5-3 and 5-2.
Lipscomb will take on Trevecca Nazarene Wednesday for a doubleheader before hosting Middle Tennessee Saturday.
Courtesy of Middle Tennessee Sports Information
