With a chance to secure the first series sweep of the year, MTSU baseball (8-3) fell behind early as the Illinois State Redbirds (7-4) erupted for an eight-run first inning, but the Blue Raiders still claimed the weekend series 2-1.
After an 8-2 win over the Redbirds on Saturday, Middle Tennessee recorded its best record through 10 games in the Jerry Meyers era. However, the Redbirds spoiled the Blue Raiders’ series sweep, plating 14 runs in a 14-7 victory.
Game One
In the first two games of the series, the Blue Raiders outscored Illinois State 21-5, including a run-rule 13-3 victory on Friday.
The weekend series started off strong for Middle Tennessee despite being without Friday starter Drew Horn due to illness. Gavin King stepped in place of the MTSU ace, posting a solid outing. Across five innings, King held the Redbirds to four hits while striking out three batters.
“I was let know that I was starting at about 1:30 and there’s really no time to think,” King said. “You just gotta go to work, so lace the boots up tight and go out there and compete.”
The bats were hot in the run-rule win with several Blue Raiders putting together multiple hit performances. Catcher Tyler Minnick led the pack with a home run, three hits, and two RBI.
“Once we got it started there in the bottom of the first inning, just keep the momentum, keep it going,” Minnick said. “That’s really just a testament to all the guys in the dugout, guys in the lineup, everyone was engaged, every single pitch.”
MTSU plated six runs in the sixth inning, sealing the deal on a game one victory.
Game Two
Riding the run-rule victory, Middle Tennessee carried momentum into the second game of the series.
The Blue Raiders scored four runs in the first two innings, never letting go of momentum in an 8-2 win on Saturday.
The second game of the weekend saw a strong performance from outfielder Owen Nowak. The lead-off hitter notched his second homer of the season, along with two RBIs, in a strong start to the season.
“Owen’s been fantastic for us at the top of the lineup,” Meyers said. “He’s competitive, sees the ball well, and sets the tone with every at-bat. He’s invaluable to our offense.”
Alongside Nowak, the Blue Raiders had another strong performance in the batter’s box. Second baseman Cooper Clapp launched a home run over the right field wall in the bottom of the fourth inning to extend the MTSU lead to 5-1.
The pitching staff held the early lead, allowing one run in the final five innings. Mason Dobbs was awarded the win after striking out three batters and allowing three hits. Landen Burch finished the game on the mound for Middle Tennessee, striking out two batters to shut the door for an 8-2 victory.
Game Three
“We dug ourselves a hole, and obviously, we were playing catch-up that way,” Meyers said.
The Blue Raiders dug themselves an eight-run hole in the top of the first inning of Sunday’s game. The Sunday starter, David Horn Jr., struggled on the mound, allowing five runs to score while walking four batters in only ⅔ inning pitched. Horn Jr. finished the game with a total of seven earned runs.
Meyers called on pitcher John Michael Pickens to relieve Horn Jr late in the inning. Middle Tennessee used a revolving door of six pitchers on the bump.
Despite the early struggles for MTSU, the Blue Raiders’ offense cut into the Redbirds’ lead in the bottom of the second. First baseman Dean O’Neill laced a single down the right field line, allowing Brett Rogers to score the first run for Middle Tennessee.
The fourth inning saw the Blue Raiders continue to chip away at the deficit, plating four runs in the inning.
The standout performer for MTSU was redshirt freshman Layne Akers, firing a long ball off the Lee Victory Wall of Champions for his first career hit and home run. Akers stepped in for an injured Clapp at the second base position.
“So I was seeing the ball really well with that guy [pitcher], and I got the pitch to hit, and it felt good to get that one off my chest,” Akers said.
Despite the offensive run in the fourth inning, the Redbirds outscored Middle Tennessee 4-2 in the remaining five innings, securing a 14-7 game three victory.
A full week of games is on deck for the Blue Raiders, featuring two midweek contests before returning to weekend play.
The key to the packed schedule is having position players ready to play and remain healthy over busy stretches, Meyers said.
MTSU takes on Murray State University (10-2), the Racers reached the College World Series in 2025, on Tuesday and in-state rival Belmont University (4-8) on Wednesday, with first pitch for both contests scheduled for 1 p.m. CDT at Reese Smith Jr. Field.
