MURFREESBORO, Tenn.—It was just one of those nights for Middle Tennessee (26-20, 14-10 C-USA) third baseman Brett Coker. Coming into the game on a four-game hit streak that included a 2-for-4, three RBI performance in the series finale against Florida International, the Hendersonville, Tenn. native picked right back up where he left off on Sunday. 

After doubling down the line in left and coming around to score in the top of the second inning, Coker did the exact same thing by turning on an inside fastball and knocking into the corner in left to make it 6-2. Coker's fast start was exactly what the Blue Raiders needed in a 8-4 win over Tennessee Tech (23-22, 7-11 OVC). 

"My batting practice coming into the game didn't go too well," Coker said. "During my first at-bat, I made an adjustment with my foot placement in the box and it made me feel really comfortable in the box. Last weekend I struck out a bit, but that comes with trying to figure some things out. I feel like I've done a good job of trying to not be complacent."

Coker finished the night 3-for-4 with a run and three RBIs, enough to push him into the team lead with 27 on the season.

 Other offensive notables for the Blue Raiders included first baseman Briggs Rutter, who finished 1-for 2 with an RBI and two runs scored and Wyatt Morgan, who reached base four times with a pair of RBIs and a run scored.

"Coach (Jordan) Getzelman is doing a great job with the hitters and they are listening to him well," said Middle Tennessee Head Coach Jim Toman. "We had a lot of hits tonight. Coker's first two hits were doubles, we had 13 hits and eight runs. The hitters were just really dialed in tonight and we had big two-out and two-strike hits."

Middle Tennessee plated a total of seven runs in the second through fourth innings to put the Golden Eagles away early.

After going up 4-0 in the second, Tennessee Tech responded in the top of the third with a pair of runs to make it 4-2, both scored off of Middle Tennessee starter Jack Julian. 

Jalen Wirtz came in from the bullpen with the bases loaded and one out and induced a shallow fly out in foul territory followed by a lineout to Fausto Lopez at short to escape the jam. Wirtz worked a career-high 4.1 innings and allowed just one run on three hits with two strikeouts, earning his first career win. 

"Wirtz picked us up tonight," Toman said. "In the third inning he came in with the bases loaded and one out and that could've been a four or five run inning and he got two big outs. He got hit a little bit, but he didn't walk anyone, which is huge."

Brycen Thomas finished things up on the mound for Middle Tennessee, giving up one run with one strikeout over the final 2.1 innings.

Tuesday's ballgame was the final midweek tilt at Reese Smith Jr. Field this season. Middle Tennessee ended the year 3-1 in midweek games at home and is sitting at 7-2 in midweek games with just one remaining on the schedule next Tuesday at Vanderbilt. 

"Early on we weren't totally prepared to play in the midweek because we weren't sure who to pitch," Toman said. "We had a tough cold-weather game at Belmont and one against Lipscomb that wasn't very good, but we've settled in. We're just playing good. The players we have are scrappy and we have a good bunch of players."

Up Next
Middle Tennessee travels to Houston, Texas, this weekend to take on the Rice Owls in its final road series of the season. First pitch for Friday's game is set for 6:30 p.m.
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