SEC Home Opener For Baseball Features Battle of the Bulldogs
March 23, 2016 | Baseball
STARKVILLE, Miss. – No. 16 Mississippi State (15-6-1) welcomes Georgia (14-8) this weekend for MSU's Southeastern Conference home opener at Dudy Noble Field. The series begins Thursday at 6:30 p.m., followed by another 6:30 p.m. first pitch Friday. The series finale is scheduled for 2 p.m. Saturday.
While Georgia leads the all-time series 45-43 dating back to 1915, the Maroon and White are 21-18 all-time against the Red and Black in Starkville. Mississippi State enters the weekend having won three straight games versus Georgia for the first time since winning three in a row from May 17, 2001-April 6, 2002. The SEC West Bulldogs have not won four straight in the series since reeling off a series-best 10 straight victories from March 29, 1996-March 12, 1999.
For more information on John Cohen's club, 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."
Rankings
Mississippi State – 16th in the Coaches Poll, 10th by Baseball America, 11th by Collegiate Baseball, 13th by Perfect Game, 14th by the NCBWA and 15th by D1 Baseball.
Georgia – Not Ranked
Need To Know
- State is looking to win its first two SEC series for the second time under John Cohen (2014: at Georgia, vs. No. 3 Vanderbilt)
- Thursday starter Dakota Hudson is the reigning Collegiate Baseball National Player of the Week and the SEC Pitcher of the Week after nine innings of one-run ball at No. 2 Vanderbilt last Friday.
- Hudson is 20th in the nation with 40 strikeouts.
- In his last two home starts, Friday starter Austin Sexton is 2-0 with 23 strikeouts, five walks and no runs allowed in 15 innings pitched.
- Leadoff hitter Jacob Robson has reached base safely in a career-long 22 straight games dating back to the last game of the 2015 regular season.
- After starting his career 0 for 8 in the month of February, true freshman outfielder Jake Mangum is hitting .619 in the month of March (13 for 21) with seven RBIs, six runs, four walks and two doubles.
- Mississippi State has tallied 23 two-out RBIs in its last three games and 31 in its last six contests.
- After hitting .293 with a .383 slugging percentage and five home runs in their first 22 games last year, MSU is hitting .311 with a .458 slugging clip and 15 home runs so far this spring.
- All 17 pitchers who have thrown for MSU this spring have exceeded 90 mph on the radar gun.
- After recording a 5.00 ERA and recording a 0-1 record on Opening Weekend, MSU's starting pitchers have gone 9-0 with a 0.61 ERA at home since.
- MSU is fourth in the SEC with 19 double plays in 22 games and have turned a nation-leading 283 twin killings since 2012.
- Junior third baseman Gavin Collins has hit four home runs in his last 39 at-bats after hitting just three in his first 292 career at-bats.
- State's pitching staff has recorded three shutouts in 22 games after throwing none in 54 games last spring.
- Wes Johnson's pitching staff is sixth in the country with 10.0 strikeouts per nine innings.
- John Cohen's offense ranks second nationally in doubles, 13th in hits and 19th in walks and on-base percentage.
- MSU's defense is 24th in the country with a .978 fielding percentage and is fourth in the NCAA in fielding percentage since 2014.
Forecast
Thursday Forecast: High 71, Low 40 - AM Thunderstorms - 80% Chance of Rain
Friday Forecast: High 66, Low 39 - Sunny - 0% Chance of Rain
Saturday Forecast: High 74, Low 50 - Sunny - 0% Chance of Rain
Live Video and Television
All games will be broadcast on SEC Network +.
Live Audio and Radio
All games will air live on the Mississippi State Baseball Radio Network. All three games will also be available live online at HailState.com/Plus (requires subscription)
Probable Starters
Friday – MSU RHP Dakota Hudson vs. UGA LHP Kevin Smith
Saturday – MSU RHP Austin Sexton vs. UGA RHP Robert Tyler
Sunday – MSU TBA vs. UGA TBA
Tickets
Tickets are still available and can be purchased at HailState.com/tickets or at the MSU ticket office behind home plate, which opens two hours before first pitch every game.
Promotions
Students and Bully's Kids' Club members and MSU students get in free to all home games. Students can also earn 275 Hail Stat Rewards points at every game this series.
Thursday
- Bully's Birthday Bash (Birthday party for mascot) – At 5 p.m., all Bully's Kids Club can come celebrate Bully's birthday with cupcakes at Dudy Noble Field.
- Bully's Kids Club night at the park – Members get a free autograph book.
Friday
- Friday Night Fireworks
Saturday
- Kid's Day At the Park (Kids run the bases postgame)
- Trading Cards Giveaway (Set 1 of 4)
- Easter Egg Hunt
