March 4, 2009

Box Score

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. -

Middle Tennessee 18, Memphis 3

Memphis (3-5)              000 002 100 -  3  8 2
Middle Tennessee (7-1)     061 002 72X - 18 19 2	

Middle Tennessee scored six runs in the second inning and seven in the seventh to complete a two-game sweep of Memphis with an 18-3 route at Reese Smith Jr. Field on Wednesday.

Back-to-back doubles by Drew Robertson and Stuart Meinhart got the Blue Raiders on the board and ignited a six-run outburst that was never relinquished. A home run by Zach Dean highlighted the frame and put Middle Tennessee on top 5-0. The Blue Raiders tacked on another run in the inning for a commanding six-run cushion.

Robertson connected for his sixth-straight hit of the series in the third, as he launched his first career home run over the leftfield wall.

Memphis broke through the scoring column in the sixth after Brett Bowen singled through the right side and Adam McClain followed with a single up the middle. Designated hitter Cole Shelton then bounced a double down the leftfield line to plate Bowen. Bowen led the Tiger offense with two hits. The Tigers cut deeper into the Blue Raider lead, 7-2 when McClain came home on a groundball out by Tyler Huelsing.

Middle answered with two runs of its own to reclaim the seven-run advantage. Meinhart led off the home half of the inning with a bloop single to left and Hunter Dawson drew a walk. Pinch hitter Grant Box then blasted an RBI-double to centerfield and Blake McDade lifted a sacrifice fly to center to make it 9-2.

The Tigers crossed a run in the seventh, but again, the Blue Raiders answered. This time home runs by Justin Miller and pinch hitter Taylor Dennis powered a seven-run inning to make it a 16-3 ballgame.

A two-run eighth by MT closed the scoring at 18-3.

Freshman Ben Paullus (0-1) took the loss in his first collegiate start. Paullus allowed seven run on 10 hits in five innings of work. He struck out five. Middle starter Chad Edwards (1-0) was the winner, allowing two runs on seven hits in six innings.

Memphis will return home for weekend action versus Valparaiso, March 6-7. Friday series opener is scheduled for 4 p.m. at USA Stadium in Millington.