Blue Raiders Shine at Home: MTSU Softball Goes 3-1 in Blue Raider Classic

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MURFREESBORO, TN - The Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) Softball team had an excellent weekend at the Blue Raider Classic, finishing with a 3-1 record across the two-day event held on Friday and Saturday against UT Martin and Akron. The weekend showcased impressive offensive bursts and clutch pitching performances, setting a positive tone as the team heads into conference play.

Saturday's Split: A Battle of Leads and a Near Comeback

The Blue Raiders concluded the tournament on Saturday by splitting their games, falling just short in a high-scoring affair while securing a crucial victory over UT Martin.

The Saturday slate began with a tight contest against UT Martin, which the Blue Raiders ultimately won with a final score of 7-4. The game was a back-and-forth battle, with the lead changing hands four times over six and a half innings. Middle Tennessee’s offense found its rhythm in the middle innings: Lucie McDonald sparked the scoring with a solo home run in the bottom of the third.

Mady Pint and Kennedy Chatman followed up by driving in three more runs, giving the Blue Raiders a 4-2 advantage. Adaeze Nwogbo and Jana Want added crucial RBIs in the fifth and sixth innings, respectively, sealing the 7-4 victory. On the mound, Halle Klaiber earned the start before Elle Hildreth entered in relief to secure the win, moving her record to 2-1 on the season, notably not allowing an earned run in her outing.

The second game on Saturday pitted MTSU against Akron in a contest that ended in an 8-7 loss for the Blue Raiders. Middle Tennessee struck first in the bottom of the first when Macie Harter stole home. Akron responded by putting up four runs in the top of the third, but the Blue Raiders immediately answered with three runs of their own, thanks to RBIs from Chatman, McDonald, and Harter, tying the game.

After Akron took a one-run lead in the top of the sixth, Ansley Blevins tied it up with a solo home run. However, the rally fell short in the bottom of the seventh. Heading to the plate trailing by three runs, Onnika Spencer delivered a two-run shot after Mady Pint reached base, bringing MTSU within one run with just one out, but the final two batters were stranded, ending the game 8-7. Mary Martinez started in the circle against the Zips, with Braelyn Hall and Hildreth also pitching in relief.

Friday's Dominance: Offensive Explosion

Friday’s performance was a clean sweep for the Blue Raiders, going 2-0 on the day with decisive wins over both opponents. MTSU defeated Akron by a score of 4-3 and then overpowered UT Martin with a 9-3 victory.

The first game against Akron was a tight battle decided by a fifth-inning offensive surge. Jana Want provided the go-ahead runs with a two-RBI home run, her second of the season, securing the 4-3 win. Braelyn Hall earned the win in the circle, with Elle Hildreth picking up the save. The defense was stellar, playing their fourth straight game without a defensive error.

The second game on Friday against UT Martin featured one of the team's best offensive displays of the season, tying a season-best with 11 hits. The Blue Raiders exploded for eight runs in the first inning alone, with six different players recording hits and RBIs. Mary Martinez pitched a complete game, including four hitless innings, and did not allow an earned run in what was her fourth career complete game. The team’s power was evident, combining for eight extra-base hits across both Friday games, including two home runs.

The overall 3-1 performance in the Blue Raider Classic brings Middle Tennessee’s season record to 8-10.

A Look at Coach Jeff Breeden’s Legacy

The success of the Blue Raider Classic weekend builds upon the strong foundation laid by Head Coach Jeff Breeden, who is entering his 14th season at Middle Tennessee. Breeden is the winningest coach in program history, having amassed 297 wins prior to the start of this season. His tenure has been marked by consistent improvement and significant program milestones.

Breeden was named the NFCA 2023 Mideast Regional Coach of the Year. His teams have achieved notable success, including an upset victory over No. 19 Mississippi State during the 2025 season, the program's first win against the Bulldogs in 20 years. A major highlight was the 2023 season, where MTSU set a program record with 42 wins (42-20 overall) and captured their second Conference USA title, which included a win over No. 5 ranked Alabama in the NCAA Regional—the program's first three NCAA Regional wins under Breeden.

In 2018, the team also won the C-USA Tournament as the six seed, leading to their second NCAA regional appearance. Before arriving at MTSU in 2012, Breeden compiled an impressive 764-188-3 record over 22 seasons as a high school head coach in Tennessee, including a state championship in 2009.

Up Next: Conference Play Begins

Following the successful home tournament, Middle Tennessee shifts its focus to opening Conference USA play on the road. The Blue Raiders will head to Kennesaw State for a three-game series starting on Friday, March 6.

The schedule for the upcoming slate is as follows:

Friday, March 6: At Kennesaw State (4:00 PM)

Saturday, March 7: At Kennesaw State (1:00 PM)

Sunday, March 8: At Kennesaw State (11:00 AM)

Wednesday, March 11: vs. Eastern Kentucky (5:00 PM at Blue Raider Softball Field)

Friday, March 13: vs. Liberty (6:00 PM at Blue Raider Softball Field)

Saturday, March 14: vs. Liberty (4:00 PM at Blue Raider Softball Field)

Sunday, March 15: vs. Liberty (12:00 PM at Blue Raider Softball Field)