Middle Tennessee baseball (15-12, 4-4 CUSA) secured a series victory with an 8-7 win over New Mexico State University (11-15, 2-5 CUSA) in the second matchup of a weekend series at Reese Smith Jr. Field.
Collin Kerrigan stepped onto the mound for the Blue Raiders in the top of the eighth inning with the score standing at 6-3 in favor of Middle Tennessee. Despite allowing four runs in the top of the ninth, Kerrigan shut the door on the Aggies’ comeback attempt.
The junior arm stepped onto the bump in relief of Gavin King after King threw four straight balls. With two runners on base, Kerrigan struck out two batters, extending his streak of punch-outs to five dating back to Friday’s 7-5 win. The bats tallied two runs to extend the score to 8-3 at the end of the eighth.
In the top of the ninth inning, Kerrigan ran into trouble, and the Aggies strung together a timely rally, loading the bases with a walk and two singles. NMSU infielder Steve Solorzano delivered a two-RBI single to center and infielder Aidan Taclas followed with an RBI single to right, capping a three-run swing to cut the Blue Raiders’ lead to 8-6.
“I trust him [Kerrigan],” MTSU head coach Jerry Meyers said. “Sometimes you make a move to change momentum, but you’re also putting a lot on the next guy. Kerrigan’s the type who wants to get himself out of it.”
Following the three runs, Kerrigan received help as Taclas was caught stealing at second base. He proceeded to strike out another batter to leave one out between MTSU and clinching a series win.
Despite another score by the Aggies, NMSU outfielder Jonatan Clough grounded out to end the game, cementing an 8-7 series-clinching victory for Middle Tennessee.
“The numbers still favored him [Kerrigan] in those matchups, especially at the top of the order, so we stayed with him,” Meyers said.
Drew Horn gave the Blue Raiders a solid start on the mound after allowing eight earned runs against Missouri State. MTSU’s ace bounced back, delivering six strikeouts through six innings while allowing two earned runs.
“I’ve learned that taking those blows in stride is part of the game,” Horn said. “You stay focused on each pitch, adjust where you need to, and keep moving forward.”
The key for the Smyrna, Tennessee, native was length. Horn threw 96 pitches through six frames, giving Middle Tennessee more options in the bullpen for the weekend finale on Sunday.
Offensively, designated hitter Layne Akers had a strong outing at the plate in the win. The redshirt freshman tallied three hits and drove in three RBIs. Akers’ single in the bottom of the eighth drove in two runs that proved crucial in the contested win.
Even as a freshman, Akers makes an impact top to bottom in the batting lineup, Meyers said.
With two tight wins, the Blue Raiders eye another swing at their first series sweep of the season on Sunday. First pitch is scheduled for 11 a.m. at Reese Smith Jr. Field.
“We’ve got an early game, so we’ll get up, get ready and come out trying to score early,” Akers said. “Hopefully we can get on them quick and keep it going.”
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