MURFREESBORO, Tenn. —Last night, Middle Tennessee (20-25, 5-14 CUSA) infielder Clay Badylak walked across the stage at the Raider's Choice Awards and accepted the Men's Breakout Athlete of the Year. The 2024 campaign wasn't easy, and the award was perhaps one of the most fitting awards handed out yesterday evening. With one out and the bases loaded in the 10th, Badylak got his first chance to prove he was the right man for the award. Facing lanky Jacksonville State (26-20, 9-10 CUSA) right-hander Jackson Sleeper, Badylak jumped on a first-pitch fastball to walk it off and get the Blue Raiders back in the win column with a 5-4 win. It was the only hit and RBI of the night for the Cincinnati native, but he showed his consistent approach and delivered in a big spot once again for Middle Tennessee.

With the bases loaded and one out in the first, Keaton Ray reached on a fielder's choice and the throw went into the Blue Raider dugout to allow Eston Snider and Clay Badylak to score the first two runs of the game. Shortstop Matt Wolfe hit his first triple of the year off the wall in right to plate Ray and make it 3-0 MTSU heading into the second.

Both starters lasted into the fifth inning, with Chandler Alderman giving up a pair of runs for MTSU and Gamecock hurler Jackson Phipps settling in after the three-run first inning to put up four straight zeros. The book on Alderman was closed after six quality innings, allowing just three earned runs.

Jacksonville State hit two solo home runs to tie the game at 3-3 heading into the bottom of the sixth when Keaton Ray clubbed his first home run of the year 405 feet into the night sky to give Middle Tennessee the lead once more at 4-3. It was RBI number 22 on the year and the second of the game for the left-handed hitting left fielder.

Phipps' night ended in the bottom of the seventh, having given up four earned runs on four hits. Jackson Sleeper came out of the bullpen and tossed a clean seventh and eighth for Jacksonville State. Cole Torbett allowed the tying run to get into scoring position in both the seventh and eighth innings but was able to pitch his way out of it to keep the Blue Raider lead intact.

Brett Rogers went 3-for-4 and Eston Snider also reached base three times at the top of the Middle Tennessee lineup. Keaton Ray scored a pair of runs and Torbett allowed just one run over the last four innings to earn his first win of the year out of the Blue Raider bullpen.

By the Numbers
1: Blue Raider left fielder Keaton Ray hit his first home run and lefty Cole Torbett won his first game this season.
11: Middle Tennessee pitchers Chandler Alderman and Cole Torbett stranded 11 runners on base.

The Skipper Speaks (Jerry Meyers)
"Clay (Badylak) not only got the big hit at the end, but we played good defense and helped us turn a couple of key double plays," said Middle Tennessee Head Coach Jerry Meyers. "Today was a group effort, all the way around. (Torbett) threw really well. You got to tip your cap to him for attacking the zone. We pushed the game back an hour and we didn't switch it off. Our guys stayed ready and it helps being at home in those scenarios, being in our own clubhouse."

Player Perspective (Infielder Clay Badylak) "That was a lot of fun," Badylak said. "(This last year) has been a lot of putting your faith in God and trusting in him. I've got a lot of confidence back and just tried to play the game the right way. I had a bit of a flashback to a moment in my senior year of high school when the other team walked a guy right in front of me and I hit a walk-off. I was just trying to have fun."