Blue Raider Baseball Ends Season in Regional

The dream 2009 season for the Middle Tennessee baseball team ended May 31 with a 6-0 loss to in-state rival Vanderbilt in an elimination game during the NCAA Louisville Regional. The high-powered Blue Raider offense was held to only four hits.

During the first day of the regional on May 29, the Blue Raiders knocked off the Commodores 5-4. MTSU, however, was sent to the losers bracket the following day after losing 3-2 to the host and Big East Conference champion, Louisville.

In the end, Louisville defeated Vanderbilt 5-3 on June 1 to advance to the Super Regional against Cal State Fullerton.

MTSU shortstop Tyler Burnett was named to the All-Regional Team.

In the loss to Louisville, the Blue Raiders took a 2-0 lead. The Cardinals, however, cut the advantage to 1 in the sixth, then knotted it up in the eighth.

In the final inning, MTSU tried to pick off a Cardinal runner, but the throw missed and Louisville scored to end the contest.

The Blue Raiders started off the NCAA tournament with a win over Vanderbilt thanks to a grand slam by junior Stuart Meinhart, with senior Taylor Dennis also going deep.

MTSU completed the 2009 season with 44-18 mark, which ranked them first in terms of wins in school history, and collected both the regular season and tournament Sun Belt championships.

Jumping, and Throwing, to Fayetteville

That same weekend, Louisville also hosted the NCAA Track and Field Mideast Regional. Four Blue Raiders earned trips to the National Championship in five events.

Sarah Namabawa took top honors in the triple jump with a mark of 45’ 9” (13.94 meters). It was the nation’s second best jump of the season. She also placed fifth in the long jump with a jump of 20’ 4.5” (6.21m). The top five in each event advanced to the NCAA Outdoor Championship in Fayetteville, Ark., June 10-13.

Brittany Cox finished fourth in the shot put with a throw of 53’ 6.25” (16.31m). On the men’s side, Carl Morgan was second in the triple jump at 52’ 8.75” (16.09 m) and Stanley Gbagbeke was fifth in the long jump with a distance of 25’ 3.5” (7.71 m).