Middle Tennessee 6, Florida Atlantic 1

MOBILE, Ala. – Middle Tennessee improved to 6-1 in Sun Belt Baseball Tournament first round games as the No. 3 seed Blue Raiders defeated No. 6 seed Florida Atlantic 6-1 Wednesday morning at Stanky Field.

MT got one on the board in the first inning as Adam Warren knocked in Wayne Kendrick from second base.

The Raiders added four more in the second when Myles Ervin and Grant Box began the inning with back-to-back singles.  Ervin would score from third on a fielder’s choice single and RBI by Matt Campbell. 

After Campbell was caught stealing and Drew Robertson walked, Matt Ray singled and pushed Robertson to second.  A fielding error by second basemen Daniel Bomback put Wayne Kendrick on first and loaded the bases.

Warren then picked up two more RBIs with a single as Ray and Robinson crossed home.  Both of those runs were unearned.

Rawley Bishop then doubled down the left field line, driving in Kendrick from third. 

The Blue Raiders added one more in the third when Ervin crossed home as Campbell grounded into a double play.

FAU’s lone run came when William Block doubled down the left field line and then scored on a Tyler Stevens double.

MT starter Brad Robinson threw seven and two-thirds shutout innings and allowed seven hits. 

FAU’s Joel Schmal pitched six and one-third and allowed three earned runs and twelve hits.

MT advances to play the winner of Wednesday’s game between No. 2 seed New Orleans and No. 7 seed Western Kentucky.  Game time is set for 4 p.m. on Thursday.  FAU will play the loser of the UNO-WKU game at 9 a.m. Thursday.