MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — March 17, 2026 — Middle Tennessee fell to Murray State 5-3 at Reese Smith Jr. Field, dropping the series opener and falling to 12-9 on the season. The Racers improved to 13-8.
Blue Raiders couldn’t overcome fourth-inning deficit
Middle Tennessee starter Bryant Beranek ran into trouble in the fourth, allowing four runs on four hits before being pulled with one out. A two-run single by Anthony Perritano and a two-run double from Colby Ott did the damage. The Blue Raiders chipped away with single runs in the fifth, sixth, and seventh — Cooper Clapp’s solo homer in the sixth pulled them within two — but the rally stalled short.
Pitching couldn’t hold the lineup down
Beranek (0-1) took the loss, charged with four earned runs in 3.2 innings. John Michael Pickens provided a bright spot out of the bullpen, spinning 4.2 scoreless innings with one strikeout. Logan Smothers (2-0) earned the win for Murray State, and Ben Rosin closed it out for his second save.
Key performers
| Player | Stat Line |
|---|---|
| Cooper Clapp (MTSU) | 2-for-4, HR, RBI |
| Owen Nowak (MTSU) | 2-for-5, RBI |
| John Michael Pickens (MTSU) | 4.2 IP, 0 ER, 1 K |
| Bryant Beranek (MTSU) | 3.2 IP, 4 ER (L, 0-1) |
Up next
Middle Tennessee and Murray State continue their series Wednesday in Murfreesboro.
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