
Photo by: Chuck Cook
State Begins Nine-Game, 12-Day Road Trip Wednesday At Jackson State
February 20, 2018 | Baseball
STARKVILLE, Miss. – As Mississippi State continues its longest stretch without a home game to open a season since 1967, it'll intensify with a 12-day road trip that will consist of nine games in five cities.
Still in search of their first win of the young season, the Diamond Dawgs are off to an 0-3 start for the first time since 1996, a year that saw State go on to finish 38-24 (17-13 SEC) and make one of its 36 all-time NCAA Tournament appearances.
State is currently ranked No. 21 by D1 Baseball and No. 25 by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association.
In the midst of a 12-game span to open the season, it is the longest stretch without a home game to begin a season for State since the 1982 season (14 games) and the longest span without a home game since 1982 (14 games).
Wednesday's first pitch is set for 6 p.m. CT from Robert Braddy Field on the JSU campus. Tickets are $10 and parking is $5, with lawn chairs and blankets welcome at Braddy Field. MSU holds a 50-8 advantage in the all-time series with the Tigers, as Wednesday's game marks the first meeting between the two sides since 2014.
Game Notes | Live Stats
NEED TO KNOW
PRESEASON HONORS
Jake Mangum – OF
- Third Team Preseason All-American (D1 Baseball, NCBWA, Perfect Game)
- First Team Preseason All-SEC (Coaches)
- USA Baseball Golden Spikes Award Preseason Watch List
Konnor Pilkington – SP
- Second Team Preseason All-American (Baseball America, Collegiate Baseball, NCBWA, Perfect Game)
- Third Team Preseason All-American (D1 Baseball)
- USA Baseball Golden Spikes Award Preseason Watch List
Spencer Price – RP
- Third Team Preseason All-American (Collegiate Baseball)
Riley Self – RP
- NCBWA Stopper of the Year Watch List
PROBABLE STARTERS
MSU Graduate Transfer RHP JP France vs. JSU TBA
WEATHER FORECAST
Wednesday Forecast: High 79, Low 66 – PM Thunderstorms – 60% Chance of Rain
LIVE VIDEO/TELEVISION
Jackson State is working out the logistics to stream the game live, with any additional information and updates to come from Twitter.com/HailStateBB prior to first pitch on Wednesday.
LIVE STATS
All season long, fans can follow the action with pitch-by-pitch updates through live stats. Visit the Diamond Dawgs' schedule page and click on the "Live Stats" link associated with the appropriate game.
LIVE AUDIO & RADIO
Wednesday's game will air live on the Mississippi State Baseball Radio Network and WKBB 100.9 in Starkville. With Jim Ellis on the call, the contest will also be audio streamed live online at HailState.com/Plus and on TuneIn Radio.
TICKETS
Tickets for the game can be purchased at Braddy Field for $10, with the field opening at 2 p.m. The Central MS Alumni Chapter will hold an event before the game behind the MSU dugout (third base) as fans can sign up for assorted giveaways and door prizes.
FOLLOW THE DIAMOND DAWGS
For more information on the Diamond Dawg program, 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."
Still in search of their first win of the young season, the Diamond Dawgs are off to an 0-3 start for the first time since 1996, a year that saw State go on to finish 38-24 (17-13 SEC) and make one of its 36 all-time NCAA Tournament appearances.
State is currently ranked No. 21 by D1 Baseball and No. 25 by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association.
In the midst of a 12-game span to open the season, it is the longest stretch without a home game to begin a season for State since the 1982 season (14 games) and the longest span without a home game since 1982 (14 games).
Wednesday's first pitch is set for 6 p.m. CT from Robert Braddy Field on the JSU campus. Tickets are $10 and parking is $5, with lawn chairs and blankets welcome at Braddy Field. MSU holds a 50-8 advantage in the all-time series with the Tigers, as Wednesday's game marks the first meeting between the two sides since 2014.
Game Notes | Live Stats
NEED TO KNOW
- During opening weekend, a total of nine Diamond Dawgs (Tanner Allen, Jordan Anderson, Justin Foscue, Marshall Gilbert, Josh Hatcher, Rowdey Jordan, Jared Liebelt, Zach Neff and Jordan Westburg) made their MSU debuts, four of those in a starting role.
- MSU had four true freshman in its Opening Day lineup for the first time since at least 1995.
- The Diamond Dawgs have a new look in 2018 with 14 newcomers (8 freshmen, 2 sophomores, 2 juniors and 2 graduate transfers).
- With SEC Triple Crown Winner Brent Rooker having been selected in the first round of the 2017 MLB Draft, State will have to look elsewhere for offensive production in 2018 and the possibilities are there as MSU returns 50% of its hits, 36% of its extra-base hits and 39% of its RBIs from 2017.
- After preseason injuries have ruled Graham Ashcraft and Preseason All-American Spencer Price out for the entirety of the 2018 season, on the mound MSU is returning 55% of its wins, 59% of its innings pitched and 38% of its saves.
PRESEASON HONORS
Jake Mangum – OF
- Third Team Preseason All-American (D1 Baseball, NCBWA, Perfect Game)
- First Team Preseason All-SEC (Coaches)
- USA Baseball Golden Spikes Award Preseason Watch List
Konnor Pilkington – SP
- Second Team Preseason All-American (Baseball America, Collegiate Baseball, NCBWA, Perfect Game)
- Third Team Preseason All-American (D1 Baseball)
- USA Baseball Golden Spikes Award Preseason Watch List
Spencer Price – RP
- Third Team Preseason All-American (Collegiate Baseball)
Riley Self – RP
- NCBWA Stopper of the Year Watch List
PROBABLE STARTERS
MSU Graduate Transfer RHP JP France vs. JSU TBA
WEATHER FORECAST
Wednesday Forecast: High 79, Low 66 – PM Thunderstorms – 60% Chance of Rain
LIVE VIDEO/TELEVISION
Jackson State is working out the logistics to stream the game live, with any additional information and updates to come from Twitter.com/HailStateBB prior to first pitch on Wednesday.
LIVE STATS
All season long, fans can follow the action with pitch-by-pitch updates through live stats. Visit the Diamond Dawgs' schedule page and click on the "Live Stats" link associated with the appropriate game.
LIVE AUDIO & RADIO
Wednesday's game will air live on the Mississippi State Baseball Radio Network and WKBB 100.9 in Starkville. With Jim Ellis on the call, the contest will also be audio streamed live online at HailState.com/Plus and on TuneIn Radio.
TICKETS
Tickets for the game can be purchased at Braddy Field for $10, with the field opening at 2 p.m. The Central MS Alumni Chapter will hold an event before the game behind the MSU dugout (third base) as fans can sign up for assorted giveaways and door prizes.
FOLLOW THE DIAMOND DAWGS
For more information on the Diamond Dawg program, 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."
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