MTSU softball wins Conference USA championship game for automatic NCAA Tournament berth
Middle Tennessee State softball is headed to the NCAA Tournament.
The Lady Raiders (39-18), the No. 6 seed in the Conference USA Tournament, defeated third-seeded North Texas 3-2 in 12 innings in the championship game Saturday in Ruston, Louisiana. It's the second CUSA Tournament title in program history.
"Championships are very special and extremely hard to come by," said MTSU coach Jeff Breeden. "This team plays with amazing confidence and willpower with such a great success mindset. This championship is a culmination of hard work from everyone in our program starting back in August. Thanks to everyone involved in this great program! This championship belongs to you!" Anyce Harvey reached on a one-out error to start the rally in the 12th. After a sacrifice bunt and an intentional walk to Shelby Sargent, Ansley Blevins ripped a single to left field, scoring Harvey, who slipped her hand on home plate just before the tag, instant replay confirmed.
Gretchen Mead, who tossed 6.2 innings of scoreless relief, then retired North Texas (34-22) in order in the bottom of the frame.
"I had all the confidence in my team that they were going to get the job done, we just had to wait for the right time," said Mead. "It was a great team win!"
MTSU took the lead in the third on an RBI single by Amaya Harris that scored Shelby Echols, who had reached on an error.
North Texas tied things in the fourth before MTSU took a 2-1 lead in the sixth.
Sargent singled with one out and scored on a two-out single by Ava Tepe. However, North Texas tied it again in the bottom of the inning.
Neither team scored again until MTSU's 12th-inning rally.
Mead allowed no hits, walked three and struck out three in earning the win.
Sargent, an Oakland product, was named tournament MVP. She went 3-for-5 Saturday with a run and two doubles, breaking the C-USA mark with six doubles in the tournament. Echols went 2-for-4 with a run.
MTSU will find out where it will be playing in the NCAA Tournament on Sunday evening at 6 p.m. on ESPN2. There will be a watch party at Happy's Sports Lounge with the team beginning at 5:30 p.m..
This article originally appeared on Murfreesboro Daily News Journal: MTSU softball in NCAA Tournament after winning Conference USA
