Softball: Blue Raiders swept in doubleheader at No. 20 Kentucky

Photo by David Chamberlain / MTSU Sidelines

Story by Teylor Hines / Sports Reporter

The Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders (23-14) traveled to Lexington, Kentucky to face No. 20 Kentucky Wildcats (23-11) in a doubleheader Friday afternoon. The Wildcats high-powered offense was too much for MT, as they were swept in the series with a 12-1 final score in the first game and a 10-1 in the second.

Middle’s offense silenced in game one

MTSU looked promising early on, as seniors Precious Birdsong and Morgan Harris put together two hits in the first inning to get Middle Tennessee an early 1-0 lead in game one, but couldn’t round up any offense from then on.

Kentucky tied the game up in the bottom of the first inning with a solo homer that set the momentum for UK offensively. They went on to rack up 12 hits and 12 runs through four innings.

The Blue Raiders came to the plate in the top of the fifth inning with hopes of getting back in the game as Kirstyn Cuccia hit a single for MT’s first hit since the first inning, but the Wildcats slammed the door early in game one by a final score of 12-1.

Wildcats’ offensive explosion continues in game two

Middle Tennessee allowed three straight singles in the first to score a run for Kentucky before a Wildcat baserunner was thrown out a home to end the inning.

The Blue Raiders suffered a major blow in the second inning, as UK’s Katie Reed hit a grand slam to run the lead up to 5-0.

Sophomore Lexi Cushing attempted to light a fire for MTSU in the fourth inning with a solo home run over the left field fence, but it didn’t halt the Wildcat offense. Kentucky went back to work in the bottom of the fourth and added three more runs, pushing the lead up to seven runs.

Senior Gretchen Greer came in the circle for the fifth inning and worked a perfect frame on eight pitches, before a single and home run in the bottom of the sixth closed out the day for Middle Tennessee. When all as said and done, they fell in game two by a final score of 10-1.

What’s next?

MTSU will be back in action on Tuesday as they will face Belmont in Nashville at 6 p.m.

To contact Sports Editor Rusty Ellis, email sports@mtsusidelines.com.

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