By: Chris Sakacsi
MTN Sports Reporter
March 1, 2022
Blue Raiders held scoreless after nine innings
Murfreesboro, Tennessee- After eight games on the road to start their season, the Blue Raiders (3-6) were greeted by a fanbase that filled nearly 1200 seats for their home opener against Lipscomb (4-3). Coming off an explosive 17-10 scoring performance against Illinois just three days prior, MT had momentum going into this nonconference matchup. Due to some late-game errors and Lipscomb sacrifice flies, the visiting team was able to pull out a 3-0 victory over the Blue Raiders.
Both teams had trouble getting on base and were held scoreless through the first seven innings of the game. LHP Trent Seibert made his first start of the season for the Raiders. The senior made life difficult for the Bisons early with his sliders, fastballs, and changeups.
“I was hitting my spots with the fastball and after coach Myers called for a few sliders, I switched to a changeup and got some strikes immediately afterwards,” Seibert explained.
Through six innings pitched, the left-handed pitcher allowed only three hits, struck out six, and allowed Lipscomb base runners to get no farther than second base.
“Honestly the whole day I felt pretty good,” Seibert said. From pre-throw on, I was ready to pitch and redeem myself after the first few outings.”
Taking over for Seibert at the top of the seventh was RHP Jaden Hamm. The sophomore would keep Lipscomb scoreless for the rest of the inning until the top of the eight. The Bisons scored their first run from a bunt out to Hamm that led to a fielding error at first base, 1-0 Lipscomb. Later, another visiting batter hit a sacrifice fly allowing another run scored. Lipscomb would then go on to earn their third and final run after a second sacrifice fly at the top of the ninth. The Blue Raiders would make it as far as second base before the final out of the night.
After the game, head coach Jim Toman shared some of his thoughts about the contest.
“Give those guys credit, especially their pitchers, we both battled and both teams only had around four or five hits,” Toman said.
MT looks to bounce back as the team heads for Chattanooga to take on Western Carolina at AT&T Field tomorrow at 4:00 pm CT.
*all stats courtesy of statbroadcast.com