MURFREESBORO, Tenn. —Middle Tennessee (15-13, 2-4 CUSA) right fielder Brett Rogers has been a welcome addition to the Blue Raider lineup after starting the season on the bench. Though it didn't take long for the redshirt freshman to become a mainstay on Jerry Meyers lineup card, tonight really solidified that decision in a 14-9 win over Lipscomb (11-16, 5-4 ASUN).

Rogers had a historic evening, collecting a career-high five hits and five RBIs in a 5-for-5 performance in which he reached base six times and scored three runs with a stolen base. His five hits ties for the second most in program history, and he becomes the 11th Blue Raider to accomplish the feat.

Middle Tennessee didn't waste any time getting on the board, putting up four runs in the first inning after starter Landon Burch sat Lipscomb down in order to begin the game. Brett Vondohlen collected RBI's 32 and 33 on a single to left field that plated Rogers and Tyler Minnick and Matt Wolfe also had a two-RBI hit of his own that scored Vondohlen and Keaton Ray.

In the second inning, Brett Rogers clubbed his second home run of the year to get the two-spot that Lipscomb put up in the top of the inning back to make it 6-2 heading into the third. Burch tossed a clean third and Rogers collected his third RBI in as many innings to make it 7-2.

Burch loaded the bases in the fourth, and with one out, Bryant Beranek came out of the bullpen and got a double play on a lineout to third, where Vondohlen fired it across the diamond to Minnick to leave the bases loaded.

Middle Tennessee batted around and added six runs in the fourth inning to blow the game wide open. Both Rogers and Vondohlen picked up their fourth RBIs of the game. Eston Snider and Matt Wolfe both had RBI doubles and Wolfe scored on an error after a single by catcher Jaxon Junnila to make it 13-2.

On the bump, Burch surrendered just two earned runs in 3.1 innings, Beranek surrendered three earned in 3.2 innings in his first win of the year and Ethan Imbimbo gave up two earned in 1.2 innings and Colin Kerrigan came on for the final out of the game.

Lipscomb was able to cut into the MTSU lead by scoring seven runs in the final four innings.

Tyler Minnick went 3-for-5 and scored a pair of runs, Matt Wolfe finished 2-for-3 with three RBIs and Brett Vondohlen had four RBIs with a pair of hits. Jaxon Junnila tied his career-high with two hits and also scored two runs.

By the Numbers
24: The on-base streak for Eston Snider after he reached in the fourth on an RBI double.
3: The number of Blue Raiders with three or more RBIs including: Brett Rogers, Brett Vondohlen and Matt Wolfe.
5: Career-high in RBIs and hits for R-FR outfielder Brett Rogers.
5: Brett Rogers five hits are tied for second most in a game in program history, with 10 others that have accomplished the feat.
20: Tonight's game was the 20th time in recorded history that Middle Tennessee has scored 10-plus runs in a win against Lipscomb.

The Skipper Speaks (Jerry Meyers)
"We did a really nice job offensively," said Middle Tennessee Head Coach Jerry Meyers. "We did a good job of getting out front. On the mound, it gave us an opportunity to get some guys some more innings to work on some things and it gave us a little bit of leeway. (Brett Rogers) is a redshirt guy who sat out last year and got a lot stronger and listened to coach (Kevin) Nichols and developed a lot as a hitter. Tonight was a consistent five at-bats and he's laying off some pitches that he hasn't before. When he's laying pitches off outside the zone, he can go 5-for-5. I'm really proud of him and he works hard and is a super athlete who's turned into more and more of a baseball player."

Player Perspective (R-FR OF Brett Rogers)
"I was going up there relaxed and the ball was falling for me," Rogers said. "I felt lucky. We always work on going the other way in two-strike counts, and (Lipscomb starter Cameron Guise) had some sink to his pitches and he lived on the outer half, so I tried to go with it and the angle was right and the ball flew out (in Rogers second at-bat). Last year, I redshirted and watched and tried to learn as much as I could. I have a good captain out there in Eston (Snider). I've learned a lot from him and I've tried to be like him, maybe even a bit better," Rogers chuckled.

Up Next
Middle Tennessee travels to Liberty this weekend for the first of a three-game set with the Flames. First pitch is scheduled for Friday at 3:00 p.m. and the game will be broadcast on ESPN+ and the Blue Raider Network.