Under the Friday night lights at Reese Smith Jr. Field, David Horn Jr. didn’t just start on the mound, he owned it.
The veteran right-handed pitcher delivered six shutout innings, allowing just two hits as Middle Tennessee baseball (23-23, 10-12 CUSA) defeated Western Kentucky University (24-22, 9-13 CUSA) 7-1 in the first game of the 2026 edition of the 100 Miles of Hate on the diamond.
For Horn Jr., the moment meant more than just another strong outing. The opportunity to play on Fridays has been a dream for his entire college career.
“This is my fourth year of college baseball,” Horn Jr. said. “I’d be lying if I said I hadn’t waited for an opportunity to pitch on Friday nights.”
After two seasons, playing under skipper Tim Corbin at Vanderbilt University and a season at the University of San Diego, when the Friday starter opportunity arrived, Horn Jr. seized it.
Drew Horn’s injury in the Jacksonville State University series pushed Horn Jr. from the Sunday starter into the Friday spot in the weekend rotation, and he has thrived. Over Horn Jr.’s last five starts on the mound, the Mission Viejo, California native has pitched at least five innings while striking out 33 batters.
Horn Jr.’s consistency at the top of the weekend rotation has provided stability as Conference USA play winds down. His ability to pitch deep into games and retire batters proved valuable in the opener against the Hilltoppers.
“That’s all you can ask for, he [Horn Jr.] got us through six,” MTSU head coach Jerry Meyers said.
After five innings Horn Jr. was already over 100 pitches, yet didn’t feel it. Assistant coach Adam Wisniewski stepped up to the senior and asked if he could go another inning on the mound.
Not aware of his pitch count, Horn Jr. returned for the sixth inning and made quick work of it, retiring three batters in a row to end the frame.
Alongside Horn Jr.’s strong outing on the bump, the Blue Raiders jumped ahead in the first inning and never looked back. Three consecutive singles quickly plated a run for Middle Tennessee. Outfielder Nathan Brewer followed up a Tyler Minnick hit-by-pitch with a base hit, driving in another run.
“I didn’t hit it that hard, but I just kind of got lucky and put the ball in play and things worked out,” Brewer said.
Another score off a bunt pushed MTSU’s lead to 3-0 after the first inning. The bats quieted for Middle Tennessee until the fourth inning as shortstop Clay Badylak scored on a wild pitch from WKU pitcher Gage Olsen.
Brewer’s second single of the day pushed two runs across the plate, boosting the Blue Raiders’ lead to 6-0 after four frames.
Middle Tennessee tacked on another run in the sixth, while Western Kentucky broke through with a solo-shot home run in the top of the ninth, accounting for a 7-1 final.
“We told the guys you’ve got about 30 minutes to feel good about this one, then you’ve got to get ready for the next,” Meyers said. “It’s only one game, and we’ve still got a lot of work to do.”
With the opener in hand, MTSU turns its attention to Saturday where Middle Tennessee can clinch its first series victory against the ‘Tops since 2023. First pitch at Reese Smith Jr. Field is set for 3 p.m. CDT.
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