Middle Tennessee softball (12-13, 3-3 CUSA) lost all three games against the Liberty University Flames (11-15, 4-2 CUSA) over the weekend at the Blue Raider Softball Field.
The Flames dominated the Blue Raiders on both sides of the ball in games one and two.
Liberty’s pitchers stepped up in the circle, shutting out MTSU’s offense in the first two games of the series, leading to two run-rule victories to begin the series.
Middle Tennessee’s pitchers had rough outings on Friday and Saturday with the Flames’ offense striking early and often.
“We could’ve done a better job of slowing the game down,” assistant coach Gretchen Mead said. “We don’t have to get on the mound immediately, and someone could’ve taken control.
In each of the first two games, Liberty scored in the first inning, setting the tone for the day as LU kept racking up hits, leading to big innings.
The biggest inning for Liberty came in its 10-0 victory, with the Flames scoring seven runs in the fourth inning. Center fielder Brynn McManus led LU with two runs, two hits and three RBIs on the day.
As Sunday rolled around, the Blue Raiders pieced together hits, and the pitching improved as Braelyn Hall got the start for MTSU and pitched a scoreless first inning.
Keeping the Flames off the board in the first inning was big for Hall, who had given up six earned runs in 3.1 innings pitched in Friday’s 10-0 loss.
After the scoreless first inning, Liberty’s Jamaya Byrum doubled down the left field line, putting the first runs of the Flames’ three-run inning on the board.
In the third inning, the Middle Tennessee offense put up its first runs of the series with a solo home run from shortstop Jana Want. After the homerun from Want, catcher Ansley Blevins hit a triple, and put the second run on the board, scoring off an error by Liberty’s shortstop Savannah Whatley.
With the two-run third inning, Middle Tennessee’s offense returned to form, adding four runs in the fifth inning, taking a 6-4 lead.
The Blue Raiders hit three home runs in the fifth inning, highlighted by senior outfielder Lexi Medlock’s two-run homer, bringing a surge of energy to the Blue Raider Softball Field.
MTSU’s offense began to show in the last game of the series, but it also missed out on some major opportunities on Sunday, leaving the bases loaded in the second and fourth innings.
“We slowed ourselves down by not taking what they gave us,” assistant coach Bryce Brentz said. “We had people on base, we had our chance, and we didn’t execute.”
In the sixth inning, the Flames quickly erased the two-run deficit with a three-run home run that hit the top of the foul pole in left field.
Liberty ended the inning with a solo homerun and held on to an 8-6 lead, completing the series sweep.
Middle Tennessee hits the road to play the University of Tennessee Martin (16-12, 4-2 OVC) on Wednesday at 1 p.m. CDT for the third meeting of the season between the two teams.
The Blue Raiders came away with a victory in each game against the Skyhawks in the Blue Raider Classic.
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