Joyous Celebration: Blue Raiders Party Past LA Tech, Snap 8-Game Skid With 11-9 Win

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MURFREESBORO, TN — Middle Tennessee Softball snapped an eight-game skid and closed out the series with Louisiana Tech in dramatic fashion, topping the Bulldogs 11-9 on Sunday at home. The Blue Raiders (14-21, 4-11 C-USA) opened the game with a burst of offense and never stopped swinging, while the defense made several momentum-saving plays — including a highlight-reel grab by left fielder Macie Harter — en route to a satisfying victory.

Middle Tennessee came out flying, scoring four runs in the game’s first two innings and setting the tone early. Jana Want launched a leadoff solo home run in the bottom of the first to put the Blue Raiders on the board. After LA Tech (21-18, 7-8 C-USA) answered in the top of the second, Middle Tennessee responded immediately: Lexi Medlock crushed a two-run homer and Macie Harter followed with an RBI double to make it 4-1.

The game settled down for an inning and a half, but the Blue Raiders blew the game open in the bottom of the fourth. An RBI single by Want began the rally and Ansley Blevins delivered a three-run home run to push the lead to 8-1 and had the home crowd buzzing about a possible early finish.

LA Tech, however, rallied fiercely in the top of the fifth, posting eight runs to take a 9-8 lead and briefly seize control. The Bulldogs’ comeback tested Middle Tennessee’s resolve, but the Blue Raiders answered in the sixth in emphatic fashion. Back-to-back homers from Want and Blevins reclaimed the lead at 11-9; those two swings ultimately proved decisive as Middle Tennessee’s bullpen shut the door the rest of the way.

Braelyn Hall started for the Blue Raiders and worked four innings before Halle Klaiber briefly relieved. Tori Coffman finished the game with 2.2 innings of relief and earned the win — her second of the season — after steady work to preserve the late lead.

Middle Tennessee also set a program mark with five home runs in the game. Jana Want and Ansley Blevins each clubbed two homers, while Lexi Medlock added another to fuel the big night at the plate. Want finished with three hits, while Blevins and Onnika Spencer each collected two.

The Blue Raiders will aim to carry this momentum into their next game at regional rival Austin Peay in Clarksville on Tuesday, April 7 at 4 p.m.