No. 12 Diamond Dawgs Play Host To In-State Rival Ole Miss
April 01, 2016 | Baseball
STARKVILLE, Miss. – Having won 10 of its last 14 games, including three straight series wins, the No. 12 Mississippi State baseball team (18-7-1, 4-2 SEC) welcomes No. 11 Ole Miss (20-5, 2-4 SEC) to Dudy Noble Field this weekend for a Southeastern Conference showdown. The three-game in-state rivalry series begins Friday at 6:30 p.m., followed by a 2 p.m. first pitch Saturday. The series finale is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Sunday.
GAME NOTES
Dating back to 1893, Mississippi State leads the all-time series, 244-204-5, including a 119-78-1 mark in Starkville. The Rebels have won five straight in the series dating back to April 28, 2015.
MSU PREVIEWS OLE MISS SERIES (VIDEO):
John Cohen | Dakota Hudson | Austin Sexton | Elih Marrero | Jake Mangum | Cole Gordon
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."
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)
Forecast
Friday Forecast: High 72, Low 47 - Partly Cloudy - 10% Chance of Rain
Saturday Forecast: High 67, Low 43 - Sunny - 0% Chance of Rain
Sunday Forecast: High 70, Low 43 - Sunny - 0% Chance of Rain
Rankings
Mississippi State – 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.
Ole Miss – 11th in the USA Today Sports baseball coaches poll, 13th by Baseball America, D1Baseball and the NCBWA and 14th by Collegiate Baseball and Perfect Game
Need To Know
- Mississippi State has won 10 of its last 14 games and has won three straight series for the first time since May 2-17, 2014 (at Auburn, vs. Tennessee, at Alabama).
- The Bulldogs are looking to win three straight SEC series for the first time since March 14-30, 2014.
- State has not won four straight three-game series in the same season since winning five straight from Feb. 28-March 30, 2003 (vs. ETSU, vs. Lipscomb, vs. Vanderbilt, at Arkansas, at Ole Miss).
- John Cohen's ballclub has tallied 92 two-out RBIs in its first 26 games after having 98 total in 2015.
- MSU is hitting .336 with two outs (107 for 318) after hitting .243 last season (142 for 584).
- In the last 15 home games, MSU's starting pitchers have gone 10-0 with a 0.61 ERA and 10.1 strikeouts per nine innings.
- The Maroon and White have 89 extra-base hits (65 doubles, 7 triples, 17 home runs) through 26 games after having just through 59 in its first 26 contests last spring (41 doubles, 5 triples, 13 home runs).
- Leadoff hitter Jacob Robson has hit safely in 22 of 26 games this season and ranks in the top-10 in the SEC in runs (30, 4th), walks (22, 4th), on-base percentage (.488, 7th) and stolen bases (10, 9th).
- Freshman catcher Elih Marrero is hitting .769 (10 for 13) the last five games with six runs, three RBIs, three walks and a double.
- Friday night starter Dakota Hudson has not allowed an earned run in 21 2/3 straight innings.
- Saturday starter Austin Sexton is 2-0 with a 0.43 ERA and 29 strikeouts in his last three home starts (21 innings pitched).
- In MSU's last 15 home games, its starting pitchers are 10-0 with a 0.61 ERA and 10.1 strikeouts per nine innings.
- The Bulldogs already have four players with 20-plus RBIs after having just four players total accomplish the feat last season.
- State has scored 10-plus runs seven times in 26 games this year after doing so 10 times in 54 games last spring.
- MSU's pitching staff ranks fourth in the country with 10.0 strikeouts per nine innings.
- All 17 pitchers who have thrown for MSU in a game this spring under new MSU pitching coach Wes Johnson have reached at least 90 mph on the radar gun.
- After tossing no shutouts a year ago, MSU has already blanked opponents in three games this spring.
- The Bulldogs are 15th in the NCAA with a .978 fielding percentage and have turned 23 double plays in 26 games (4th in SEC).
- The Diamond Dawgs lead the NCAA with 287 twin killings since the 2012 season.
- Junior Reid Humphreys ranks sixth in the SEC with a .635 slugging percentage and is tied for second in the league with 11 doubles.
- Through two weekends of SEC play, Humphreys has the same amount of XBH (7) as he totaled in 25 league games a season ago.
- Junior right-hander Dakota Hudson leads the SEC with a 1.13 ERA (23rd in NCAA) and is fifth with 45 strikeouts. The team captain has held opposing hitters to a .196 batting average in 39 2/3 innings pitched and is one of the most improved players in the country.
- Leadoff hitter Jacob Robson has hit safely in 22 of 26 games this season and ranks in the top-10 in the SEC in runs (30, 4th), walks (22, 4th), triples (3, 5th), on-base percentage (.488, 7th) and stolen bases (10, 9th). The “Maple Hammer” has totaled eight XBH in 103 at-bats this season after registering eight XBH total in his first three seasons on campus (298 at-bats).
- True freshman outfielder Jake Mangum hit a team-high .455 in March (15 for 33) with 10 RBIs, seven runs, four walks and two doubles.
- Relief pitcher Ryan Rigby has been one of the best relief pitchers in the SEC so far this year, allowing just one run in eight appearances. The right-hander is 3-0 with a 0.69 ERA in 13 innings, including a perfect 2-0 record with a 0.00 ERA in SEC play.
Probable Starters
Friday – MSU RHP Dakota Hudson vs. OM RHP Brady Bramlett
Saturday – MSU RHP Austin Sexton vs. OM RHP Chad Smith
Sunday – MSU TBA vs. OM RHP Sean Johnson
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
Friday
- Friday Night Fireworks
- FREE admission for Bully's Kids' Club members & MSU students with ID
- Greek Night: MSU cups for the 1st 1,000 Greeks
- Beat Ole Miss buttons for the 1st 2,500 fans
- Hail State Rewards Prize Pick-up
Saturday
- FREE admission for Bully's Kids' Club members & MSU students with ID
- Tshirt toss
Saturday
- FREE admission for Bully's Kids' Club members & MSU students with ID
- Kids' Day at the Park: take the field with the team; run the bases postgame
- Bulldog Baseball Trading Card Pack #2 giveaway for the 1st 1,000 fans
