No. 21 Diamond Dawgs Host South Alabama Tuesday At Dudy Noble Field
March 07, 2016 | Baseball
STARKVILLE, Miss. – No. 21 Mississippi State baseball (8-3-1) returns to action Tuesday for a 6:30 p.m. first pitch against South Alabama (9-3) at Dudy Noble Field. The Diamond Dawgs are coming off a 1-1-1 finish in the 2016 Dodger Stadium College Baseball Classic. State suffered a 2-1 setback at No. 19 UCLA this past Friday before winning at USC 8-7 Saturday and tying against Oklahoma 5-5 in Dodger Stadium Sunday. The Jaguars are coming off a series loss at home to Middle Tennessee State (4-7, 3-2, 4-5).
The Maroon and White are 44-23 all-time against USA and have won six of the last seven against the Jaguars dating back to 2010. In their lone meeting last year, MSU and USA played an 11-inning thriller at Stanky Field in Mobile, Alabama, with the home squad walking off with a 8-7 victory. Current MSU junior Reid Humphreys finished 2 for 6 with three RBIs, two runs scored and a home run.
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Need To Know
- In the latest rankings released Monday, MSU was voted 20th by D1Baseball and the NCBWA, 21st by Perfect Game, 21st in the Coaches' Poll, 24th by Baseball America and 26th by Collegiate Baseball.
- South Alabama received votes in the NCBWA Division I Poll and the USA Today Sports Coaches' Poll.
- As of March 7, Mississippi State ranks second in the country in doubles (37, 1st in SEC), 14th in on-base percentage (.424, 3rd in SEC), 18th in hits (133, 2nd in SEC) and 21st in batting average (.323, 3rd in SEC).
- After three weeks, the Bulldogs offense also ranks fourth in the SEC in total bases (196) and fifth in slugging percentage (.476).
- The MSU defense is third in the SEC and 27th nationally with a .981 fielding percentage and is tied for third in the conference with 12 double plays (32nd in NCAA).
- MSU's pitching staff is tied for fifth nationally with three shutouts and ranks 17th in the NCAA with 10.0 strikeouts per nine innings.
- Individually, junior designated hitter Jack Kruger leads the NCAA with nine doubles, while ranking fourth in total bases (41, 1st in SEC), seventh in hits (23, 1st in SEC), 10th in average (.511, 1st in SEC), 11th in slugging percentage (.911, 2nd in SEC), 16th in on-base percentage (.600, 3rd in SEC) and 16th in RBIs (18, 4th in SEC).
- Kruger is also tied for fourth in the conference with three home runs.
- Junior center fielder Jacob Robson is fifth in the NCAA with an SEC-leading 15 walks, is tied for 13th nationally with eight stolen bases (T-5th in SEC) and is 27th in the country with 15 runs scored (T-6th in SEC).
- Robson also ranks fifth in the SEC with a .556 on-base percentage.
- All 17 pitchers who have appeared in a game this season have thrown at least one pitch 90 mph.
- MSU's remaining schedule has won 162 games, tied for fourth-most in the country.
- After hitting .243 with two outs in 2015, the 2016 Diamond Dawgs are raking at a .338 clip with two outs this spring (47 for 139).
- With a runner on third and less than two outs this season, MSU is hitting .760 (38 for 50).
Tuesday's Forecast (March 8) – High 75, Low 56 – Cloudy (20%)
Live Video and Television
Tuesday's game will be available on SEC Network + via the WatchESPN app.
Live Audio and Radio
Tuesday's game will be available locally on WKBB 100.9 FM. The contest will also be audio streamed live online at HailState.com/Plus (requires subscription).
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
All fans who show up with an “I Voted” sticker will be eligible to win an autographed Mississippi State baseball jersey. For all midweek games this season, general admission tickets will be sold for $2. Hot dogs will also be available for $2 at concessions. Fans can also visit HailState.com/memories for incredible fan experiences.
