No. 12 MSU Battles Southern Miss Tuesday Night in Pearl
March 28, 2016 | Baseball
STARKVILLE, Miss. – No. 12 Mississippi State baseball (17-7-1) returns to action Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. for a non-televised matchup against in-state rival Southern Miss (19-6) at Trustmark Park in Pearl, Mississippi. Freshman southpaw Konnor Pilkington (0-0, 0.75 ERA) will start for MSU against USM right-hander Mason Walley (1-1, 4.26 ERA).
The Bulldogs are fresh off of a 2-1 series win at home against Georgia (9-2, 3-1, 8-11) and are 13-4 against teams with winning records this spring. The Golden Eagles are coming off a home sweep against UTSA this past weekend (6-5, 11-2, 13-2).
State is 78-37 all-time against USM. In their lone meeting last season, the Golden Eagles picked up a 3-0 victory in Pearl.
For more information on head coach John Cohen's ballclub, 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.”
Tickets
Tickets are still available and can be purchased at Ticketmaster.com.
Live Video and Television
Tuesday's game will not be televised in any way, shape or form. As a result, the official Twitter account of MSU Baseball (@HailStateBB) will tweet live play-by-play.
Live Audio and Radio
Tuesday's game will be available on the MSU Baseball Radio Network. The contest will also be audio streamed live online at HailState.com/Plus (requires subscription).
Tuesday's First Pitch Forecast (March 29) – 72 Degrees and Sunny with a zero percent chance of rain.
Need To Know
- In the latest rankings released Monday, MSU was ranked 12th in the USA Today Sports baseball coaches poll, 5th by Baseball America, 7th by Collegiate Baseball, 11th by D1Baseball and the NCBWA and 12th by Perfect Game.
- Southern Miss received votes in the USA Today Sports baseball coaches poll and the NCBWA poll, while also being considered in the D1Baseball and Perfect Game Top 25.
- As of March 28, Mississippi State's offense ranks fourth nationally in doubles (62), ninth in walks (132), 12th in on-base percentage (.415), 14th in hits (271), 22nd in batting average (.311) and 26th in runs (180).
- The Diamond Dawgs' pitching staff ranks fourth nationally with 9.9 strikeouts per nine innings and defensively is 19th in the NCAA with a .979 fielding percentage.
- Individually, junior designated hitter Jack Kruger is 14th in the country with 11 doubles, while junior center fielder Jacob Robson is 20th in the nation with 22 walks.
- Robson has hit safely in 21 of 25 games this spring.
- In his last start March 22 versus Mississippi Valley State, Tuesday starter Konnor Pilkington struck out a career-best six batters in five shutout innings.
- In the month of March, true freshman outfielder Jake Mangum is raking at a .519 clip (14 for 27) with eight RBIs, six runs, four walks and a pair of doubles.
- True freshman catcher Elih Marrero enters Tuesday's game hitting .778 in his last four games (7 for 9) with three walks, three runs and two RBIs.
- In four starts this season, senior infielder John Holland is 4 for 11 (.464) with five runs, three RBIs, three walks and a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage.
- MSU is outscoring its opponents 47-13 in the first two innings this season and owns an 8-1-1 record when scoring in the first inning.
- The Diamond Dawgs are 11-1 overall this year when scoring first, 15-1-1 when out-hitting its opponent and 15-1 when leading after the sixth inning.
- After totaling 55 extra-base hits through its first 25 games last season (39 doubles, 5 triples, 11 home runs), MSU's offense through 25 games this year has already tallied 85 XBH (62 doubles, 6 triples, 17 home runs).
