JONESBORO, Ark. (3-14-2008) ? After building a 2-0 lead through four innings, the Arkansas State Indians saw their lead slip away in the top of the fifth as Middle Tennessee (8-4-1, 1-2) crossed the plate four times, but the Tribe matched the effort with four runs in the bottom of the frame and went on to defeat the Blue Raiders 6-5 Friday night at Tomlinson Stadium and Kell Field.
The Indians improved to 11-4 overall and more importantly, 4-0 in Sun Belt Conference play with the series-opening victory. The 4-0 conference start is ASU's best league start since the Tribe began Sun Belt play with a 5-0 record in 2003.
The Blue Raiders out-hit the Indians 9-7 on the night, but ASU capitalized on three Middle Tennessee errors and some timely hitting to get the win. Arkansas State scored its first run on a Blue Raider throwing error, then combined another Blue Raider error with two hit batsmen and a pair of clutch hits to score four times in the fifth and erase a 4-2 MTSU advantage.
“Middle Tennessee is very good offensively,” said ASU Head Coach Keith Kessinger. “They scare you up and down the lineup and we feel very fortunate to get the win tonight.”
Indian starter Chase Ware improved to 3-0 on the season with the win, giving up all five Middle Tennessee runs on six hits, four walks and three strikeouts. The ASU bullpen gave up just three hits and a walk in the final 3.2 innings, with junior Nick Lambert closing out the game to record his third save of the season.
“Chase had more trouble with his breaking ball tonight than he has been having,” said Kessinger. “That allowed them to get on his fastball, and you've got to give credit to Middle - they did swing the bat really well. Chase kept us in the game and he was able to get the win. I was proud of the fact that he got the win.”
“Our bullpen came in and didn't give up anything,” added Kessinger. “And that has been a great thing for us all year.”
Arkansas State took advantage of a Blue Raider error in the third to get on the scoreboard. Catcher Lawson Hipps led off the inning with a double, moved to third on a sacrifice bunt from Aaron Ferguson and scored on a Middle Tennessee throwing error. A solo home run from senior shortstop Ryan Hudgins doubled the ASU lead to 2-0 in the fourth.
Middle Tennessee got RBI hits from shortstop Tyler Burnett and second baseman Taylor Dennis, and a two-run home run from third baseman Zach Barrett in the fifth to take a 4-2 lead, but the Tribe answered with four in the bottom of the frame to take the lead for good.
Arkansas State got runners on in the fifth when first baseman Drew Benes reached on an error and third baseman Guy Brown was hit by a pitch ? the ninth time this season Brown has been hit. Both scored on a single by centerfielder Derrick Coleman to tie the game at 4-4. Hudgins got aboard when he was hit by a pitch, and a single from second baseman Brandon Eller scored Hudgins and Coleman for the 6-4 ASU advantage.
Middle Tennessee closed within a run at 6-5 on an RBI single from catcher Drew Robertson in the sixth, and threatened again in the eighth, but left fielder Bryce Brentz was thrown out at home by Eller when first baseman Rawley Bishop reached on a fielder's choice to prevent the tying run.
Eller and left fielder Cody Pace led the Indians at the plate with two hits each, with Eller adding two RBI's. Coleman added one hit while driving in two runs and Hudgins had one hit and one RBI.
Nine Blue Raiders each had one hit for Middle Tennessee.
The Indians and Blue Raiders will resume the series Saturday at 6 p.m.
