Bulldogs Head To Coral Gables, Fla. For NCAA Regionals
May 25, 2016 | Baseball
STARKVILLE, Miss. - Less than 24 hours after capping a perfect run throughthe SEC Tournament with a 4-1 victory over cross-state rival Ole Miss in thechampionship game, the Mississippi State baseball team learned Mondaymorning that it will head to Coral Gables, Fla., and the University of Miamias part of the 64-team NCAA Regional field.
The Bulldogs (40-20), who clinched their sixth SEC Tournament title with thewin over the Rebels in Hoover, Ala., are No. 2 seed in Coral Gables and willface third-seeded Florida Atlantic (36-22) at 2 p.m. (CDT) in Friday's firstround.
Top-seeded and tournament host Miami (38-17-1) will battle fourth-seededVirginia Commonwealth (33-20) in the other opening day match-up at 6 p.m.(CDT).
For the fifth-straight year, the SEC led all conferences in the number ofteams in the NCAA baseball championship field with nine teams, followed bythe ACC with seven and the Big 12 and the Pac-10 with five each. This marksthe fourth time in the last five seasons the SEC has sent at least eightteams on the "Road to Omaha." The SEC sent an NCAA record-high nine teams tothe NCAA Tournament in 2004.
The Bulldogs are making their 22nd NCAA regional tournament appearance,having compiled a 54-36 mark in their previous 21. State has also competedin six NCAA District III playoffs. MSU has a series history with just oneteam at its regional, splitting a pair of meetings with the host Hurricanes.Mississippi State defeated Miami by a 7-3 count in the 1971 NCAA DistrictIII playoffs en route to its first College World Series appearance, but wasousted by the Hurricanes in the 1985 CWS.
The University of Miami and the ticket office are closed for Memorial Daybut normal ticket office hours will resume on Tuesday, May 31. The office isopen from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday. Call 284-CANES or1-800-GO-CANES.
All-tournament packages are $45 for general admission and $35 for youths 17and under and seniors 55 and over. Single day passes for Friday, Saturdayand Sunday are $15 for adults and $10 for youths and seniors. If necessary,tickets for Monday's game are $10 for adults and $8 for youths and seniors.
Tickets to the Coral Gables Regional may be purchased online athurricanesports.com.
