MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – The Middle Tennessee State University Blue Raiders (8-3) suffered a 14-7 defeat to the Illinois State Redbirds (7-5) on Sunday, dropping the series finale after securing the first two games. The loss halted a six-game winning streak for Middle Tennessee.
The Redbirds jumped to an early 8-0 lead in the first inning, capitalizing on a rough start from Blue Raiders’ pitcher David Horn Jr. Horn Jr. Was removed from the game after recording only two outs, having been charged with seven runs. According to the Middle Tennessee State University Athletics roster, Horn Jr. Is a right-handed pitcher currently in his junior year, previously playing at San Diego.
Middle Tennessee began to chip away at the deficit in the second inning with an RBI single from Dean O’Neill, scoring Brett Rogers. O’Neill continued to be a key offensive contributor, driving in two more runs with a double in the fourth inning. The Blue Raiders added two runs in the fifth, highlighted by a home run from redshirt freshman Layne Akers – his first career hit, launching the ball over the Lee Victory Wall.
Illinois State responded with single runs in the following four innings, extending their lead to 14-5. Middle Tennessee managed to add two more runs in the late innings. Brett Vondohlen singled to center field in the seventh, scoring Owen Nowak, whereas Kenny McKinley drove in Calvin Cook with a ground out in the ninth for his first career RBI.
The Blue Raiders utilized five relievers in the loss, including John Michael Pickens, Jack Fortner, Ethan Robinson, Abel Albarran and Ollie Akens. Fortner delivered a strong performance, striking out three batters across 2.2 innings pitched. Albarran pitched 3.0 innings, leading the team in that category. Akens made his season debut in the ninth inning, recording two strikeouts.
“Both are high character individuals,” said Middle Tennessee head coach Jerry Meyers, referring to Akers and Cook after their first career hits. “It’s hard for a coach to say, ‘Hey be patient, be patient,’ but you look around and Vondohlen, Brewer, Rogers, they all had to kind of wait for their time and they had to stay ready… It’s rewarding to notice them have some success right there.”
Akers echoed the sentiment, stating, “You just have to stay ready, that’s our considerable thing. The opportunity’s going to come and when it does, you just do all you can to take it in and create the best of it.”
Middle Tennessee is scheduled to host Murray State (10-2) for a midweek matchup on Tuesday, kicking off a five-game slate for the week.
