NOTEBOOK: Women’s Golf Earns First Team Title of the Spring
7 min read MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — As the spring gets in full swing here in the Mid-State, Middle Tennessee women’s golf traveled to the Silver State to earn their first team tournament title since 2019 last week.
The Blue Raiders had all five golfers in their lineup finish in the top 20, recording a collective 864 (E) at the par-72, 6,343-yard Boulder Creek Golf Course to place first in the Jackrabbit Invitational, taking the tournament title from host South Dakota State by three strokes.
The champs!! 🏆 #BlueRaiders | @MTAthletics pic.twitter.com/7EeV6Qo8am
— MT Women’s Golf (@MT_WGolf) March 15, 2022
Sophie Burks was scorching hot on the final day on Tuesday, carding a 68 (-4) to finish the tournament -1 overall. She finished fifth in the entire field.
Leading the Blue Raiders is Sophie Burks, who finishes fifth after a career-low 68 (-4) in the third round! #BlueRaiders | @sophie_w_burks pic.twitter.com/jtLFmlSCJ4
— MT Women’s Golf (@MT_WGolf) March 15, 2022
“Great finish for the team,” head coach Chris Adams said after the tournament wrapped up. “Everyone played great, and to make the run we did in the final round was awesome to watch. Sophie had a great round with 4-under, and everyone contributed to a great team win. This will give the team some confidence going into the rest of the spring season.”
Softball makes late comeback, wins in extra innings to clinch Southern Miss series
Blue Raiders softball had some late inning heroics on Sunday, scoring four runs in the bottom of the fifth to tie Southern Miss then scoring the winning run in extra innings to take the rubber match 6-5 and the series 2-1.
Claire Czajkowski perfectly read the riseball off the glove of the Golden Eagle catcher to break home immediately, diving head first into the plate to walk-off on Sunday.
.@claireczaj14 FOR THE W.
It’s a great day to be a Blue Raider!#BlueRaiders | ⚡️⬆️ pic.twitter.com/Ozr24APeHb
— MT Softball (@MT_Softball) March 20, 2022
There was plenty of heroics around the field for the Blue Raiders on Sunday, with an unassisted double play from Kaylee Richetto and an outfield assist from Amaya Harris keeping USM off the scoreboard following the tie, and a Laura Mealer triple to pull MT within one in the fifth innings and keep the rally going.
T8 | @kayleerichetto_ DOES IT ALL! Richetto snags the liner and steps on the bag at first for the unassisted double play! Two down in the eighth!
MT 5 – Southern Miss 5#BlueRaiders | ⚡️⬆️ pic.twitter.com/EBKKPAn72q
— MT Softball (@MT_Softball) March 20, 2022
MT 5 – Southern Miss 5#BlueRaiders | ⚡️⬆️ pic.twitter.com/jrIj6L6Sei
— MT Softball (@MT_Softball) March 20, 2022
B5 | @Laura_Mealer5 TRIPLES! Mealer connects on the second triple of her career to bring across Harris and Hill and we’re within one!
MT 4 – Southern Miss 5#BlueRaiders | ⚡️⬆️ pic.twitter.com/nkbXmrWmEZ
— MT Softball (@MT_Softball) March 20, 2022
“I probably wouldn’t have given you a nickel for us in the middle of the game, but we came back and rallied to score four runs and never stopped fighting, and things went our way in the end,” head coach Jeff Breeden said post game. “I’m proud of all of our young kids for coming up big and hitting the ball.”
MT will take on Tennessee State at home on Wednesday before traveling to Marshall this weekend for their second C-USA series of the spring.
Baseball comes up big in seventh inning on Sunday
I spent most of my weekend at The Reese, watching the Blue Raiders play Old Dominion in the 2022 C-USA opener for Middle Tennessee. And while the team took two tough losses on Friday and Saturday, Sunday afternoon was a pure rave of a day, as MT scored eight runs in the bottom of the seventh in route to coming back to win 13-5 over ODU.
The bottom of the seventh, which saw 13 Blue Raider batters walk up to the plate, was highlighted by a grand slam from Jackson Galloway, the first grand slam Middle Tennessee has had since the 2019 season.
One of the biggest hits of the season. Nothing beats a grand slam. @Gway_15 pic.twitter.com/hgYuyu1OqF
— MT Baseball (@MT_Baseball) March 20, 2022
Two MT starters, Jaden Hamm and Eriq Swan, got some love from the Perfect Game scouts in attendance on Twitter. Both MT pitchers were able to strikeout at least six batters in their starts, with Swan setting a new career high on Saturday with 10 Ks.
Jaden Hamm (@MT_Baseball) struck out 6 over 5 frames on the bump. Mostly 92-93, here’s a look at a 94 mph heater for a punchout. pic.twitter.com/Jn1fNdqhdX
— PG College Baseball (@PGCollegeBall) March 20, 2022
Eriq Swan (@MT_Baseball) with two scoreless to open up. Projectable 6-6 frame, effortless delivery. Working 93-97 right now w/ solid CH @ above avg SL. ’23 Elig. pic.twitter.com/MNsn5cXmwl
— PG College Baseball (@PGCollegeBall) March 19, 2022
Sunday’s comeback win was MT’s second of the week, as they walked on Tuesday night against Austin Peay. Check out Sam Wilde’s cinematic recap of the dramatic bottom of the ninth inning.
We’re still recovering from a wild finish last night. Here’s how it all went down. pic.twitter.com/tGeKa4Wxh1
— MT Baseball (@MT_Baseball) March 16, 2022
Women’s Basketball WNIT matchup on tap
If you’re looking for some late plans for tonight, your Lady Raiders take on Wake Forest tonight at the Murphy Center, with tipoff at 6:30 central.
The postseason rolls on tonight for our #BlueRaiders on the hardwood!@MT_WBB hosts Wake Forest at 6:30 PM. Doors open at 5 PM for @MTSUBRAA members and 5:30 for the general public.
🎟 $10 – https://t.co/AWQzZYoiV3
🎓 First 200 students get in FREE at box office with student ID pic.twitter.com/Oes9EIGd9a
— MT Athletics (@MTAthletics) March 21, 2022
Middle Tennessee put in a dominant performance to advance in the WNIT on St. Patrick’s Day. Check out Reed Sellers’ work recapping the win over Wofford!
Still 𝓊𝓃𝒹𝑒𝒻𝑒𝒶𝓉𝑒𝒹 in the ‘Boro 👌#BlueRaiders | #WNIT pic.twitter.com/KIForcleL0
— MT Women’s Basketball (@MT_WBB) March 18, 2022
Men’s Basketball continues CBI run
Down in Daytona Beach, Men’s Basketball scrapped their way to an opening round win over California Baptist and now play this afternoon at 5:30 central.
Also, tune into @MT_MBB in the CBI quarterfinals as the #BlueRaiders tip off at 5 PM vs. Boston University.
Listen to @ChooseChip on the Blue Raider Network for FREE as the #BlueRaiders take on the Terriers.
💻 @FloHoops ($)
📻 @WGNSSports, @ESPN949 & 95.1, @varsity pic.twitter.com/9AaT1wsl2z
— MT Athletics (@MTAthletics) March 21, 2022
Blue skies, Blue Raiders #StickTogether | @CBITourney pic.twitter.com/LvQ7uFPufm
— MT Basketball (@MT_MBB) March 20, 2022
With a win over Boston University, MT’s next game in the CBI will be broadcast on ESPN2. In the meantime, check out Easton Smith’s work on the Blue Raiders’ win on Saturday over the Lancers.
One down, three to go. #StickTogether pic.twitter.com/8SWEKYUcDM
— MT Basketball (@MT_MBB) March 20, 2022
Spring Practice well underway for football
Rick Stockstill and the Middle Tennessee football program have been hard at work this week, with official practices getting underway on Tuesday, March 15.
Check out some of the highlights you might’ve missed from all the football social feeds this week, and hear from Rick Stockstill, Nicholas Vattiato and Jordan Ferguson on the first practice of the spring.
Felt good to be back out there today. 💪#BlueRaiders | #EATT pic.twitter.com/yZrCi5zvx9
— Middle Tennessee FB (@MT_FB) March 16, 2022
WE
OVER
MEDay one of spring practice is in the books! #BlueRaiders I #EATT I #BLUE23ASON pic.twitter.com/DlgfOCbOXh
— Middle Tennessee Football Recruiting (@MTFB_Recruiting) March 16, 2022
.@CoachStock talks about the main objective in spring practice: improving. 📈#BlueRaiders | #EATT pic.twitter.com/G77QPW9Wkc
— Middle Tennessee FB (@MT_FB) March 16, 2022
.@JoFerg__ feeling positive after a good first day back on the practice field.#BlueRaiders | #EATT pic.twitter.com/IvqPvlVe7M
— Middle Tennessee FB (@MT_FB) March 16, 2022
.@canesqb11 on what drill he’ll miss most and what drill he won’t miss at all from the winter mat drills.#BlueRaiders | #EATT pic.twitter.com/XXqXNQ3Qhz
— Middle Tennessee FB (@MT_FB) March 16, 2022
Lookin’ sharp early in spring ball 👌#BlueRaiders | #EATT pic.twitter.com/gsFEHGJLHM
— Middle Tennessee FB (@MT_FB) March 18, 2022
Day two of work is in the books ⚡️#WeOverMe I #EATT I #BlueRaiders pic.twitter.com/w8xOmxEs4y
— Middle Tennessee Football Recruiting (@MTFB_Recruiting) March 18, 2022
Week one of Spring Practice is all wrapped up!#WeOverMe I #EATT I #BlueRaiders pic.twitter.com/24KrISdqaP
— Middle Tennessee Football Recruiting (@MTFB_Recruiting) March 20, 2022
Men’s Tennis Memes
It was once again a big week for MT Men’s Tennis and coach Jimmy Borendame, as Pavel Motl earned Athlete of the Week honors on March 16 after his 3-1 record the previous week, including clinching the match against No. 65 USF. With Motl’s honor, every single regular starter in the MT lineup this season has earned at least one Athlete of the Week award from Conference USA.
So our office, led by Social Media Coordinator Matt Posey and Men’s Tennis SID Alex Morgan, had some fun with it.
Perfectly balanced, as all things should be.
For the first time in his career, @CoachJimmyB has had all six starters named @ConferenceUSA Athlete of the Week in the same season.#BlueRaiders pic.twitter.com/sxGcQnZUSf
— MT Men’s Tennis (@MT_MensTennis) March 16, 2022
MT defeated both SMU and Rice on the road this weekend to continue their winning ways. They’ll take on Texas Tech at the ATC this Friday.
Track continues jumping to new heights
𝙉𝙤𝙩 𝙖 𝙗𝙖𝙙 𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙧𝙩! 👀
In her first official meet with the Blue Raiders, Abigail Kwarteng hit a mark of 1.84m in the women’s high jump! This mark is ranked second in the NATION!#BlueRaiders | #MT⚡️ pic.twitter.com/zyH3ahGAqh
— MT XC/Track & Field (@MT_TrackField) March 20, 2022
