No. 4 Diamond Dawgs Battle The Arizona Wildcats For A Trip To Omaha
June 09, 2016 | Baseball
STARKVILLE, Miss. – Needing just two wins to advance to the program's 10th College World Series, the No. 4 Diamond Dawgs welcome the Wildcats from Arizona for a three game set with championship aspirations in mind.
After earning their first national seed, Mississippi State plays host to an NCAA Super Regional Championship for the second time in school history. Game times for the weekend are set at 5 p.m. CT Friday, Saturday and Sunday (If Necessary).
Friday's game will air live on ESPN2, while Saturday's game will be broadcast on ESPNU. Sunday's if-necessary game will either be broadcast on ESPN2 or ESPNU, with Clay Matvick and Ben McDonald on the call all weekend.
The 2016 SEC Champion Diamond Dawgs swept the Starkville Regional last weekend, beating all three participants Southeast Missouri (9-5), No. 24 Cal State Fullerton (4-1) and Louisiana Tech (4-0) to advance to Super Regional round.
The Diamond Dawgs are 11-4 all-time against the Wildcats, and are currently riding a three game winning streak in the series after taking both games in Starkville last season (4-2, 6-2). Junior hurler Austin Sexton tossed five and 2/3 innings and fanned 10 while senior second baseman John Holland picked up a pair of hits in the Bulldogs' 6-2 win.
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."
Need To Know
· Mississippi State swept a home regional for the first time in school history last weekend to advance to a super regional, putting MSU two wins away from its 10th CWS appearance
· The Diamond Dawgs are hosting their second NCAA Super Regional in school history, the first coming in 2007 against the Clemson Tigers. The Bulldogs won in two games to advance to the CWS.
· MSU is 97-76 all-time in the NCAA Tournament and 5-6 in Super Regional action. The Bulldogs' last appearance in a Super Regional was a successful one, with state sweeping the first two games against national seeded Virginia.
· Mississippi State captured its 11th SEC Championship in program and the first since the 1989 season.
· The Maroon and White won nine SEC series this season, setting a program record
· MSU's 21 SEC victories also set a program record.
· The 2016 Diamond Dawgs became the second team in school history to win all five SEC road series. The Bulldogs last accomplished the feat in 1997.
· In the final regular season rankings released Monday May 30, MSU was voted 4th in the Coaches Poll, 4th by Baseball America, 4th by Collegiate Baseball, 4th by Perfect Game, 4th by the NCBWA and 4th by D1 Baseball.
· As of June 9, Mississippi State's offense ranks 20th in the country in doubles (128, 1st in SEC), 10th in hits (670, 2nd in SEC), 37nd in on-base percentage (.389, 2nd in SEC), and 15th in batting average (.312, 2nd in SEC).
· The Bulldog's pitching staff is 11th in the NCAA in strikeouts per nine innings (9.10, 5th in SEC)
· After hitting .243 with two outs in 2015, the Bulldogs are terrorizing opposing pitching with a .307 batting average (1st in SEC) with two down this season. The Bulldogs are the only team in the league hitting above .300 with two down.
Friday's Forecast (June 10) – High 95, Low 70 – Sunny (0%)
Saturday's Forecast (June 11) – High 93, Low 70 – Isolated Thunderstorms (30%)
Sunday's Forecast (June 12) – High 90, Low 70 – Scattered Thunderstorms (60%)
Game 1 will be broadcast on ESPN2
Game 2 will be broadcast on ESPNU
Game 3 (if necessary) will either be broadcast on ESPN2 or ESPNU
Information regarding the 2016 Starkville Super Regional (Box Scores, Postgame Video, Updated Schedules and more) will be updated daily on Mississippi State's website and can be accessed by visiting HailsSate.com/NCAABaseball.
Live Audio and Radio
Tuesday's game will be broadcast statewide on the Mississippi State Baseball Radio Network and also locally on WKBB 100.9 FM. The contest will also be audio streamed live online at HailState.com/Plus (requires subscription).
LIVE STATS
Ticket Information
Mississippi State is monitoring sales for the Starkville Super Regional. Given the weather forecast for the weekend, and in order to provide the most comfortable experience possible for our fans, the athletic department will be limiting total ticket sales to 14,000. As of end of day Thursday, there are approximately 4,500 general admission tickets remaining for this weekend's series against the University of Arizona. All-session booklets are available online at www.hailstate.com/tickets and can be printed at home to avoid will call lines. Fans who are planning on attending the games but who have not yet purchased tickets are strongly encouraged to purchase tickets in advance as soon as possible. An allotment of MSU student tickets will be held and will be available starting at 2 p.m. Friday in the main box office of Dudy Noble Field or the auxiliary box office on the north side of Humphrey Coliseum facing the baseball stadium.
All-session GA tickets are $20. Individual game GA tickets are $10. Only all-session tickets are available online in advance.
The Athletic Department will bring a portable video screen into Dudy Field this weekend to accommodate the anticipated standing room only crowd. Fans are reminded that general admission tickets only grant access into the stadium but do not guarantee seats or a view of the field.
