Wednesday, April 4
Starkville
6:30 PM
Mississippi State
vs
Southern University
Wednesday's game marks State's first home game since March 21.
MSU Returns To Dudy Noble Wednesday To Take On Southern
April 03, 2018 | Baseball
STARKVILLE, Miss. – Coming off of a nine-day stretch that consisted of seven road games, Mississippi State is back at home and will open a four-game homestand with a nonconference contest on Wednesday night.
The Diamond Dawgs (14-15) and Southern (8-15) will face off at 6:30 p.m. CT at Dudy Noble Field. The Jaguars will serve as State's third Southwestern Athletic Conference opponent in 2018. MSU outscored its first two SWAC opponents by a combined 28-7 (17-1 vs. Alcorn State and 11-6 vs. Texas Southern).
State spent last week in the state of Louisiana with a four-game stint that included a midweek matchup at Nicholls State, before a three-game Southeastern Conference series at No. 19 LSU. The Diamond Dawgs posted a 1-3 mark with a 4-1 road win over No. 19 LSU in game two on Friday,
This week's contest between MSU and Southern will mark the first all-time meeting between the two programs in the sport of baseball. Nine of the 29 teams MSU will face in 2018 are first-time opponents for the Diamond Dawgs.
Game Notes | Live Stats
NEED TO KNOW
Wednesday: MSU TBA vs. SU TBA
WEATHER FORECAST
Wednesday Forecast: High 60, Low 34 – Partly Cloudy – 0% Chance of Rain
LIVE VIDEO/TELEVISION
This week's game, along with all 23 of MSU's home games in 2018, can be viewed live on SEC Network+, which can be accessed through WatchESPN.com and the Watch ESPN app. Those interested in watching this week's games can click on the links below to go directly to the viewing page for the respective games.
Watch Wednesday's Game
LIVE STATS
All season long, fans can follow the action with pitch-by-pitch updates through live stats. Visit the Diamond Dawgs' schedule page and click on the "Live Stats" link associated with the appropriate game.
LIVE AUDIO & RADIO
Wednesday's game is scheduled to air live on the Mississippi State Baseball Radio Network and WKBB 100.9 in Starkville. With Jim Ellis on the call, the contest will also be audio streamed live online at HailState.com/Plus and on TuneIn Radio.
#NEWDUDE POLICIES
Fans can enter Dudy Noble Field through the right field plaza and Left Field Lounge gates, with gates opening two hours before first pitch on game day. Stadium gates will close one hour after the conclusion of each game. The right field terrace is a public, grill-free, first come first served area. Should fans wish to purchase ice at Dudy Noble, they will be able to do so behind the center field wall in the Left Field Lounge.
Approved coolers cannot exceed the maximum size of 10" by 10" by 10" after gates open, with coolers exceeding the restriction size being prohibited. Other prohibited items include alcoholic beverages, smoking (in all areas), weapons, fireworks, electric power generators, pets, non-approved banners and signs, bicycles, any illegal substances, carts, wagons, wheeled supply carriers, personal tailgate tents (on concourse or lawn areas) and lawn chairs on sidewalks or concourse areas).
All bags are subject to search and security screening, along with items prohibited from being stored along stadium fencing and gates. MSU encourages fans to leave all unnecessary and prohibited items at home or in their vehicles to expedite security and screening procedures.
PROMOTIONS
Just as is the case for all midweek games in 2018, fans can purchase tickets for Wednesday for just $2 apiece. Shortly after first pitch, a crawfish boil will be held for MSU students behind the general admission area in right field while supplies last.
For all regular season home games at Dudy Noble, MSU students will be admitted into the games for free with their student ID and Bully's Kids Club members will also receive free admission.
Fans can upgrade their game day experience with multiple options throughout the year from HailState.com/memories.
TICKETS
Tickets for this week's game, along with all of MSU's home games and select road games, can be purchased through HailState.com/tickets.
UP NEXT FOR STATE
MSU will return to SEC play this weekend with a three-game series against in-state rival No. 3 Ole Miss (25-4, 6-3 SEC). The series will open Friday with a 6:30 p.m. CT first pitch from Dudy Noble Field.
FOLLOW THE DIAMOND DAWGS
For more information on the Diamond Dawg program, follow the program on Twitter, like them on Facebook and join them on Instagram by searching for "HailStateBB." You can also find all-access coverage of the program on SnapChat by searching for "HailStateSnap."
The Diamond Dawgs (14-15) and Southern (8-15) will face off at 6:30 p.m. CT at Dudy Noble Field. The Jaguars will serve as State's third Southwestern Athletic Conference opponent in 2018. MSU outscored its first two SWAC opponents by a combined 28-7 (17-1 vs. Alcorn State and 11-6 vs. Texas Southern).
State spent last week in the state of Louisiana with a four-game stint that included a midweek matchup at Nicholls State, before a three-game Southeastern Conference series at No. 19 LSU. The Diamond Dawgs posted a 1-3 mark with a 4-1 road win over No. 19 LSU in game two on Friday,
This week's contest between MSU and Southern will mark the first all-time meeting between the two programs in the sport of baseball. Nine of the 29 teams MSU will face in 2018 are first-time opponents for the Diamond Dawgs.
Game Notes | Live Stats
NEED TO KNOW
- In 13 of State's 14 wins thus far, opponents have been held to four runs or less.
- The Diamond Dawgs have seven comeback wins on the year, all of which have come in the month of March. In 2017, 25 of State's 40 wins were come-from-behind victories.
- MSU is 13-7 when holding opponents to five or less runs, 10-1 when holding others to two or less runs and 1-8 when allowing six or more runs. State is also 7-0 when scoring six or more runs, 9-2 when scoring first and 7-2 when having scored in the first inning.
- The MSU pitching staff has combined for 10+ strikeouts in 10 games this season.
- State's staff has also collected 26 or more punch outs in each of its last five weekend series, with four of those having been 29+ strikeout weekends.
- While Jake Mangum leads MSU in multi-hit games (14), Josh Hatcher (10), Hunter Stovall (10) and Tanner Allen (10) aren't far behind their junior center fielder.
- MSU leads the SEC in batters struck out looking (94), while Konnor Pilkington leads the league in strikeouts looking (25) and Ethan Small ranks fourth (16).
- A redshirt sophomore, Small is coming off what was arguably the best outing of his young career with a career-best 8.0 innings pitched at No. 19 LSU, striking out nine and allowing just four hits, one run and one walk.
- With seven appearances on the year, all of which have been game two weekend starts, Small has recorded at least six strikeouts in all of those appearances.
- State's staff also ranks second in the league in batters struck out (285).
- Pilkington also ranks 23rd in all of Division I baseball and second in the SEC with a 7.71 strikeout-to-walk ratio. Small's 5.00 ratio is sixth-best in the conference.
- Hatcher has recorded the most fielding double plays in the SEC (25), while Stovall ranks second in the conference with 24.
- As a team, State ranks second in the league and 13th in the nation in fielding double plays (28).
- The MSU defense also leads the SEC in runners caught stealing with 12 and is second in the league in runners picked off with seven.
- 39 strikeouts over the three-game stretch that was the Shriner's College Classic (March 2-4) at Minute Maid Park made for the most in a three-game weekend series by a Diamond Dawg pitching staff since 45 on March 2-3, 2002 against Jacksonville State (doubleheader on March 2).
- The Diamond Dawgs began the year with an unprecedented road trip that had MSU away from home for 12-straight days, including eight games and spanning six cities. Originally scheduled to include nine games, a Feb. 26 meeting between State and UT-Rio Grande Valley was canceled in the bottom of the fourth inning due to heavy amounts of fog (State led 4-0). It was the longest stretch without a home game to begin a season for State since the 1982 season (14 games) and the longest span without a home game since 1982 (14 games).
- The Diamond Dawgs got off to an 0-3 start for the first time since 1996, a year that saw State go on to finish 38-24 (17-13 SEC) and make one of its 36 all-time NCAA Tournament appearances.
- A total of 12 newcomers have made their MSU debut through the early part of the season (Tanner Allen, Jordan Anderson, JP France, Justin Foscue, Marshall Gilbert, Josh Hatcher, Rowdey Jordan, Jared Liebelt, Cole Marsh, Zach Neff, Alex Pener and Jordan Westburg), eight of those have also recorded a start in 2018.
Wednesday: MSU TBA vs. SU TBA
WEATHER FORECAST
Wednesday Forecast: High 60, Low 34 – Partly Cloudy – 0% Chance of Rain
LIVE VIDEO/TELEVISION
This week's game, along with all 23 of MSU's home games in 2018, can be viewed live on SEC Network+, which can be accessed through WatchESPN.com and the Watch ESPN app. Those interested in watching this week's games can click on the links below to go directly to the viewing page for the respective games.
Watch Wednesday's Game
LIVE STATS
All season long, fans can follow the action with pitch-by-pitch updates through live stats. Visit the Diamond Dawgs' schedule page and click on the "Live Stats" link associated with the appropriate game.
LIVE AUDIO & RADIO
Wednesday's game is scheduled to air live on the Mississippi State Baseball Radio Network and WKBB 100.9 in Starkville. With Jim Ellis on the call, the contest will also be audio streamed live online at HailState.com/Plus and on TuneIn Radio.
#NEWDUDE POLICIES
Fans can enter Dudy Noble Field through the right field plaza and Left Field Lounge gates, with gates opening two hours before first pitch on game day. Stadium gates will close one hour after the conclusion of each game. The right field terrace is a public, grill-free, first come first served area. Should fans wish to purchase ice at Dudy Noble, they will be able to do so behind the center field wall in the Left Field Lounge.
Approved coolers cannot exceed the maximum size of 10" by 10" by 10" after gates open, with coolers exceeding the restriction size being prohibited. Other prohibited items include alcoholic beverages, smoking (in all areas), weapons, fireworks, electric power generators, pets, non-approved banners and signs, bicycles, any illegal substances, carts, wagons, wheeled supply carriers, personal tailgate tents (on concourse or lawn areas) and lawn chairs on sidewalks or concourse areas).
All bags are subject to search and security screening, along with items prohibited from being stored along stadium fencing and gates. MSU encourages fans to leave all unnecessary and prohibited items at home or in their vehicles to expedite security and screening procedures.
PROMOTIONS
Just as is the case for all midweek games in 2018, fans can purchase tickets for Wednesday for just $2 apiece. Shortly after first pitch, a crawfish boil will be held for MSU students behind the general admission area in right field while supplies last.
For all regular season home games at Dudy Noble, MSU students will be admitted into the games for free with their student ID and Bully's Kids Club members will also receive free admission.
Fans can upgrade their game day experience with multiple options throughout the year from HailState.com/memories.
TICKETS
Tickets for this week's game, along with all of MSU's home games and select road games, can be purchased through HailState.com/tickets.
UP NEXT FOR STATE
MSU will return to SEC play this weekend with a three-game series against in-state rival No. 3 Ole Miss (25-4, 6-3 SEC). The series will open Friday with a 6:30 p.m. CT first pitch from Dudy Noble Field.
FOLLOW THE DIAMOND DAWGS
For more information on the Diamond Dawg program, follow the program on Twitter, like them on Facebook and join them on Instagram by searching for "HailStateBB." You can also find all-access coverage of the program on SnapChat by searching for "HailStateSnap."
Players Mentioned
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