Over the weekend, Middle Tennessee baseball (21-19, 8-10 CUSA) completed a series sweep against Conference USA foe the University of Delaware (11-29, 1-17 CUSA). 

Game 1 

Off the hot pitching of David Horn Jr, the Blue Raiders opened their weekend series in a nail-biter over the Blue Hens, 8-7.  

Despite Delaware hitting a home run to initially lead 1-0 with a solo shot, the Blue Raiders coasted until the bullpen collapsed in the ninth inning. Horn Jr. took the mound for the Blue Raiders, initially surrendering a leadoff home run to UD’s Sal Mineo, before the California native tied his career high, striking out nine batters in a career-long 8 1/3 innings over 123 pitches.  

“David Horn [Jr.] was outstanding,” head coach Jerry Meyers said. “Would have allowed him to finish, but I’m not going to do that to him with the pitch count pretty much at his limit. He did a nice job all the way around in a lot of areas.” 

Middle Tennessee’s hot streak began at the bottom of the first inning, with offensive firepower coming from senior catcher Tyler Minnick doubling down to right field, bringing in utility Layne Akers and outfielder Owen Nowak. Redshirt junior outfielder Nathan Brewer later homered into center field to bring him and Minnick home to go up 4-1. 

The Blue Raiders extended their lead in the fourth, as outfielder Brett Rogers singled to left field for another Brewer score, while infielder Brett Vondohlen homered to left field, driving in Rogers.  

Minnick launched a long ball to cap MTSU’s scoring for the night, 8-1. 

Turning to the bullpen in the ninth inning, left-handed pitcher Colin Kerrigan took over for Horn on the bump, allowing six Blue Hens scores off a single RBI, bases loaded walk and a grand slam to cut the lead 8-7. 

Right-handed pitcher Gavin King replaced Kerrigan on the mound to put Delaware away for the night, striking out Blue Hen Noah Burroughs on four pitches.  

Game 2 

The Blue Raiders clinched the series over the Blue Hens with a 4-3 victory on Saturday, with a strong showing from right-handed pitcher Chandler Alderman.  

Alderman got the nod on the mound for the first five innings, getting off to another early Middle Tennessee start. 

Minnick’s momentum carried over into the second game, singling to left field, driving Nowak home. Senior catcher Dean O’Neill doubled down the infield line with two RBI from Minnick and redshirt junior infielder Cooper Clapp to take an early 3-0 lead.  

Nowak had a strong outing on the plate, going 3-of-4 with a run scored. 

“I was just capitalizing on mistakes today,” Nowak said. “they [Delaware] haven’t been picking and prying early in the count…I was just ready to hit.” 

UD rallied for a run in the second and an unearned run in the fifth, before Rogers singled to score on an RBI single in the sixth. 

Attempting another comeback, the Blue Hens scored on a single RBI in the eighth inning to close the gap 4-3.  

Middle Tennessee had other plans, as right-handed pitchers King and Bryant Beranek combined for four innings to clinch the series for the Blue Raiders. 

“[I’m] Proud of the guys for continuing to stick it out,” Meyers said. “Continuing to play in a one run game, or a close game like we have so many times this year. It seems second nature, but we finished it out.” 

Game 3 

MTSU swept the series over Delaware in convincing fashion, 4-0, after a big fifth inning on Sunday afternoon.  

In the final matchup of the series, both Middle Tennessee and Blue Hens got off to a slow start, maintaining a calm atmosphere at Reese Smith Jr Field.  

Cole Torbett got his start on the bump, pitching 8.2 innings, striking out six batters on 116 pitches, only giving up one walk. 

With UD’s Nick Bilotto on the mound in the fifth frame, he hit Brewer, allowing him to advance to second base, while Minnick advanced to third and Akers scored for the first run of the game. 

Off the initial run, the Blue Raiders’ batting momentum kicked in, as Rogers singled to center field on a two RBI hit, bringing in Brewer and Minnick to lead 4-0. 

MTSU’s bats slowed down again and cruised its way to a season sweep. 

The Blue Raiders will travel to Cookeville, Tennessee, for a midweek matchup on Tuesday against Tennessee Tech University (13-26, 3-11 OVC), with first pitch scheduled for 6:00 p.m. CDT at Bush Stadium at Averitt Express Baseball Complex. 

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