Instant Analysis: Jax State narrowly defeats MTSU baseball 5-3
Instant Analysis: Jax State narrowly defeats MTSU baseball 4-3
MTSU baseball’s season was essentially ended yesterday by Western Kentucky, but they had one final contest of the 2026 season where they could spoil Jax State’s chances at a conference title.
The Blue Raiders fought hard throughout and nearly defeated the Gamecocks.
However, the No. 1 seed in Conference USA was too much for Jerry Meyers’ squad. They did just enough to leave Mickey Dunn Stadium with a 5-3 win and a spot in the semifinals on Saturday, regardless of tomorrow’s outcome.
It was a competitive season for Middle Tennessee in its fourth season under this skipper, but they will now prepare for the offseason.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Jax State jumped on Middle Tennessee early in the game, plating a run in the opening frame off a couple of walks and a bases-loaded fielder’s choice. Chandler Adlerman escaped that inning with little damage, then immediately got into a groove.
On the other side, Steven Cash was mowing down batters, picking up three strikeouts through the first two innings before the Blue Raiders got on the board in the third. Brett Vondohlen, who had a tough day offensively on Wednesday, blasted a solo home run to tie things at one run apiece.
The Gamecocks responded with a run of their own to reclaim a 2-1 advantage. However, that’s when the Blue Raiders put together a few big-time at-bats against one of the best arms in CUSA.
Layne Akers drew a leadoff walk in the bottom of the fourth, bringing up the red-hot Cooper Clapp. He delivered with a massive two-run shot over the right field wall that soared towards the Waffle House just outside the ballpark.
Even with his pitch count climbing to triple digits, Meyers sent Alderman back out to the bump in the top of the sixth inning.
He surrendered a couple of hits, one being an RBI single, and that was the end of his day. Cole Torbett took his spot and gave up a run that was charged to Alderman’s line, but limited the damage to just that.
Middle Tennessee threatened late in the eighth inning, but came up short. Clapp just missed his second long ball of the game, which resulted in a flyout at the warning track to send us to the ninth.
Five insurance runs scored, highlighted by a Luke Williams solo homer to give Jax State a 9-3 lead heading into the bottom of the ninth. Middle Tennessee had one last chance, but they were unable to make anything happen offensively, ending their season with a narrow loss to Jax State.
STATS TO LOOK AT
73 – The number of home runs Middle Tennessee hit this season. They came into the game with 71, but two Blue Raider long balls extended it to 73, which is a single-season program record in the BBCOR era.
3 – The number of Blue Raider extra-base hits. Middle Tennessee had six total base knocks, three for extra bases and two home runs by Vondohlen and Clapp.
8 – The number of strikeouts by Steven Cash. He was terrific for Jax State, tossing five quality innings with eight total punchouts.
4– The number of Blue Raider batters to record hits against the Gamecocks. It was not a great day offensively, outside of two guys who drove in both runs by way of the long ball.
.444– Middle Tennessee’s batting average in the leadoff spot. After struggling to get their first guy of the inning on base against Western Kentucky, they were terrific against Jax State.
PLAYERS OF THE GAME
2B Cooper Clapp – 3-for-4 with a home run, one run scored and two RBI.
3B Brett Vondohlen – 1-for-3 with a home run, one run scored and one RBI.
LHP Chandler Alderman – 5 1/3 innings pitched, three earned runs and two strikeouts.
LOOKING AHEAD
Middle Tennessee’s 2026 season is over, and they will now prepare for the upcoming campaign. After missing the Conference USA tournament a season ago, they made it as the last team in and at least made some noise.
The Blue Raiders lose some key players, including Tyler Minnick, David Horn Jr., Dean O’Neill and more. It was a fun fourth season covering MTSU baseball, where, despite having a losing record, there was a lot of competitive play.