By Daniel Johnson MTN Sports Reporter April 18, 2021 MURFREESBORO — After dropping the first game of a back-to-back on Saturday, the Blue Raiders re-grouped and won game two, taking a 2-1 series lead heading into the final game on Sunday.
Courtesy of a walk-off by Middle Tennessee senior Jocelyn De La Cruz in the ninth inning, the Blue Raiders topped Western Kentucky 5-4 in extra innings in game two. The Blue Raiders got down early, as WKU recorded the first run of the game in the second inning, taking a 1-0 lead.
The Hilltoppers lead did not last long, as a three-run home run by Makenzie Hutchinson scored Summer Burgess and Kelci Hill in the bottom of the third inning. Middle Tennessee took a 3-1 lead.
Both teams traded scores in the fifth inning as Western Kentucky took the lead back 4-3, before Middle Tennessee tied it back up at 4-4, setting up for a wild finish.
In the ninth inning, with Hill on first, De La Cruz was up to bat, with two outs. She blasted one into the Western Kentucky infield, the Hilltoppers throw carried the ball over the first baseman’s head, allowing Hill to score the winning run from first.
Middle Tennessee and Western Kentucky will play the final game of the four-game series Sunday at noon.