MURFREESBORO, TN—Middle Tennessee State’s lefthander Zac Curtis tossed a three-hit shutout to lead the Blue Raiders to a 1-0 Conference USA victory over the Monarchs Friday night at the Reese Smith Field.
ODU's hits came from Josiah Burney on a lead-off single in the second, Brian Bashara led off the sixth but was erased in a double play, and Nick Walker’s hit come with one out in the ninth. Curtis (6-2), the nation’s fourth leading strikeout pitcher fanned 11 with no walks for MTSU.
ODU’s senior lefthander Andy Roberts matched Curtis except for a solo homer in the second inning by leftfielder Jared Allen, who belted his C-USA leading eighth homerun for the game’s only run. Roberts fanned four and walked no one on just four hits. Brett Harris came on in the eighth with runners on second and third and got out of the inning.
Hank LaRue, Jared Allen, Michael Adkins and Ryan Stephens had one hit each for MTSU. ODU left two runners on base, while MTSU left three. The Monarchs turned two double plays tonight.
The two teams will play again on Saturday at 5 p.m. ET. You can listed to the game live on STAR1310 AM with Ted Alexander providing the play-by-play.
ODU 000 000 000=0-3-4
MT 010 000 00x=1-4-1
ODU-Roberts, Harris (8) and Livers
MT – Curtis and Adkins
HR- Allen (8)
WP: Curtis (6-2) LP: Roberts (3-2)