Tuesday, March 6
Starkville
6:30 PM
Mississippi State
vs
New Mexico State
State will play five games in six days to open its 2018 home slate.
Photo by: Keith Warren
Diamond Dawgs Open 2018 Home Slate Against New Mexico State
March 05, 2018 | Baseball
STARKVILLE, Miss. – Following an 11-game stretch away from home to open the season, Mississippi State is ready to open its 2018 home slate with a five-game home stand at the new Dudy Noble Field on Tuesday.
The Diamond Dawgs (6-5) will host New Mexico State (8-4) for a pair of 6:30 p.m. CT starts on Tuesday and Wednesday. While MSU will play five home games over a six-day span, the Bulldogs will also play 10 of their next 11 games at home in Starkville.
With a $55 million construction project in progress that will result in the new Dudy Noble Field, State will play 23 regular season home games in 2018 as construction on the entire project is to be completed in February 2019.
State is currently ranked No. 21 by D1 Baseball and No. 26 by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association, along with receiving votes in the USA Today Coaches Poll.
This week's meetings will mark the first all-time meetings between the two programs in the sport of baseball. Nine of the 29 teams MSU will face in 2018 will also be first-time opponents for the Diamond Dawgs.
Game Notes | Live Stats
VIDEO: Gary Henderson meets with the media as State prepares for Tuesday's home opener
NEED TO KNOW
PROBABLE STARTERS
Tuesday: MSU RHP Cole Marsh (0-0. 0.00 ERA) vs. NMSU TBA
Wednesday: MSU TBA vs. NMSU TBA
WEATHER FORECAST
Tuesday Forecast: High 65, Low 36 – Sunny – 0% Chance of Rain
Wednesday Forecast: High 53, Low 32 – Sunny – 0% Chance of Rain
LIVE VIDEO/TELEVISION
This week's games, along with all 23 of MSU's home games in 2018, can be viewed live on SEC Network+, which can be accessed through WatchESPN.com and the Watch ESPN app. Those interested in watching this week's games can click on the links below to go directly to the viewing page for the respective games.
Watch Tuesday's Game | Watch Wednesday's Game
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
Tuesday and Wednesday's games will air live on the Mississippi State Baseball Radio Network and WKBB 100.9 in Starkville. With Jim Ellis on the call, all three games will also be audio streamed live online at HailState.com/Plus and on TuneIn Radio.
#NEWDUDE POLICIES
Fans can enter Dudy Noble Field through the right field plaza and Left Field Lounge gates, with gates opening two hours before first pitch on game day. The right field terrace is a public, grill-free, first come first served area. Should fans wish to purchase ice at Dudy Noble, they will be able to do so behind the center field wall in the Left Field Lounge.
Approved coolers cannot exceed the maximum size of 10" by 10" by 10" after gates open, with coolers exceeding the restriction size being prohibited. Other prohibited items include alcoholic beverages, smoking (in all areas), weapons, fireworks, pets, non-approved banners and signs, bicycles, any illegal substances, carts, wagons, wheeled supply carriers, personal tailgate tents (on concourse or lawn areas) and lawn chairs on sidewalks or concourse areas).
All bags are subject to search and security screening, along with items prohibited from being stored along stadium fencing and gates. MSU encourages fans to leave all unnecessary and prohibited items at home or in their vehicles to expedite security and screening procedures.
PROMOTIONS
Tickets for both Tuesday and Wednesday's games will be $2, as part of the 2018 special for all midweek games at Dudy Noble. As is always the case, MSU students will be admitted into the games for free with their student ID and Bully's Kids Club members will also receive free admission. There will also be live music in the right field plaza of Dudy Noble, prior to first pitch on Tuesday night.
Fans can upgrade their game day experience with multiple options throughout the year from HailState.com/memories.
TICKETS
Tickets for this week's games, along with all of MSU's home games and some road games, can be purchased through HailState.com/tickets.
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."
MSU Head Coach Gary Henderson
On his impression of the new Dudy Noble field
"I haven't seen it since two Mondays ago, but my overall impression is that it will be the best facility in the country. We're really proud of it. We're fortunate enough to be at a place where we get to play in that type of a stadium."
On winning all three games played in the Shriners College Classic
"I think any time of the year that you're on the road and you get three wins, it's beneficial. In that environment, against those teams, basically home games for those teams in a wonderful venue, I think it helped our kids a lot."
On why Dustin Skelton has started at catcher
"I think the fair answer is that he has earned it. Specifically, he has communicated, controlled and helped our pitching staff. He receives, blocks and throws. I am very happy that Marshall Gilbert is a part of the program and he will catch, but right now I think that Dustin (Skelton) is reaping the benefits of a lot of hard work and he's getting what he deserves. That's opportunity. They'll both catch. We've all watched enough baseball to know that you need two catchers, and we have to that we are very happy with."
On Fifth-Year Pitcher J.P. France
"He's going to pitch when it's important. I'll tell you that. Whether that's starting in the week or on the weekends, those kinds of things we need to figure out. Of course, the roles on the pitching staff are constantly in flux, and they change all year. And that's every year that they change. J.P. France is now healthy. He had a minor setback that cost him a couple of weeks in terms of preparation and strength and conditioning. He's competitive. He's experienced. He's tough. He has pitched really well for us. Right now until I figure out what we're going to do with the midweek games, hopefully we'll continue to pitch him when we have a lead. Could he start on Wednesday? Sure, but we have to get through tomorrow first."
The Diamond Dawgs (6-5) will host New Mexico State (8-4) for a pair of 6:30 p.m. CT starts on Tuesday and Wednesday. While MSU will play five home games over a six-day span, the Bulldogs will also play 10 of their next 11 games at home in Starkville.
With a $55 million construction project in progress that will result in the new Dudy Noble Field, State will play 23 regular season home games in 2018 as construction on the entire project is to be completed in February 2019.
State is currently ranked No. 21 by D1 Baseball and No. 26 by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association, along with receiving votes in the USA Today Coaches Poll.
This week's meetings will mark the first all-time meetings between the two programs in the sport of baseball. Nine of the 29 teams MSU will face in 2018 will also be first-time opponents for the Diamond Dawgs.
Game Notes | Live Stats
VIDEO: Gary Henderson meets with the media as State prepares for Tuesday's home opener
NEED TO KNOW
- MSU opened the season on a 12-game span away from Dudy Noble Field, it was 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).
- State is 6-2 since 29-year coaching veteran Gary Henderson took over the reins of the MSU program, with the Diamond Dawgs having posted a 2.47 team ERA in those games.
- 39 strikeouts over the three-game stretch that was the Shriner's College Classic (March 2-4) at Minute Maid Park made for the most in a three-game weekend series by a Diamond Dawg pitching staff since at least the 2005 season.
- In all six of State's wins thus far, opponents have been held to four runs or less.
- The Diamond Dawgs are coming off an unprecedented road trip that had MSU away from home for 12-straight days, including eight games and spanning six cities. Originally scheduled to include nine games, a Feb. 26 meeting between State and UT-Rio Grande Valley was canceled in the bottom of the fourth inning due to heavy amounts of fog (State led 4-0).
- The Diamond Dawgs got 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.
- A total of 11 newcomers have made their MSU debut through the early part of the season (Tanner Allen, Jordan Anderson, JP France, Justin Foscue, Marshall Gilbert, Josh Hatcher, Rowdey Jordan, Jared Liebelt, Zach Neff, Alex Pener and Jordan Westburg), seven of those have also recorded a start in 2018. Cole Marsh is scheduled to be the 12th to appear, as he's scheduled to start on the mound, Tuesday night.
- 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).
PROBABLE STARTERS
Tuesday: MSU RHP Cole Marsh (0-0. 0.00 ERA) vs. NMSU TBA
Wednesday: MSU TBA vs. NMSU TBA
WEATHER FORECAST
Tuesday Forecast: High 65, Low 36 – Sunny – 0% Chance of Rain
Wednesday Forecast: High 53, Low 32 – Sunny – 0% Chance of Rain
LIVE VIDEO/TELEVISION
This week's games, along with all 23 of MSU's home games in 2018, can be viewed live on SEC Network+, which can be accessed through WatchESPN.com and the Watch ESPN app. Those interested in watching this week's games can click on the links below to go directly to the viewing page for the respective games.
Watch Tuesday's Game | Watch Wednesday's Game
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
Tuesday and Wednesday's games will air live on the Mississippi State Baseball Radio Network and WKBB 100.9 in Starkville. With Jim Ellis on the call, all three games will also be audio streamed live online at HailState.com/Plus and on TuneIn Radio.
#NEWDUDE POLICIES
Fans can enter Dudy Noble Field through the right field plaza and Left Field Lounge gates, with gates opening two hours before first pitch on game day. The right field terrace is a public, grill-free, first come first served area. Should fans wish to purchase ice at Dudy Noble, they will be able to do so behind the center field wall in the Left Field Lounge.
Approved coolers cannot exceed the maximum size of 10" by 10" by 10" after gates open, with coolers exceeding the restriction size being prohibited. Other prohibited items include alcoholic beverages, smoking (in all areas), weapons, fireworks, pets, non-approved banners and signs, bicycles, any illegal substances, carts, wagons, wheeled supply carriers, personal tailgate tents (on concourse or lawn areas) and lawn chairs on sidewalks or concourse areas).
All bags are subject to search and security screening, along with items prohibited from being stored along stadium fencing and gates. MSU encourages fans to leave all unnecessary and prohibited items at home or in their vehicles to expedite security and screening procedures.
PROMOTIONS
Tickets for both Tuesday and Wednesday's games will be $2, as part of the 2018 special for all midweek games at Dudy Noble. As is always the case, MSU students will be admitted into the games for free with their student ID and Bully's Kids Club members will also receive free admission. There will also be live music in the right field plaza of Dudy Noble, prior to first pitch on Tuesday night.
Fans can upgrade their game day experience with multiple options throughout the year from HailState.com/memories.
TICKETS
Tickets for this week's games, along with all of MSU's home games and some road games, can be purchased through HailState.com/tickets.
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."
MSU Head Coach Gary Henderson
On his impression of the new Dudy Noble field
"I haven't seen it since two Mondays ago, but my overall impression is that it will be the best facility in the country. We're really proud of it. We're fortunate enough to be at a place where we get to play in that type of a stadium."
On winning all three games played in the Shriners College Classic
"I think any time of the year that you're on the road and you get three wins, it's beneficial. In that environment, against those teams, basically home games for those teams in a wonderful venue, I think it helped our kids a lot."
On why Dustin Skelton has started at catcher
"I think the fair answer is that he has earned it. Specifically, he has communicated, controlled and helped our pitching staff. He receives, blocks and throws. I am very happy that Marshall Gilbert is a part of the program and he will catch, but right now I think that Dustin (Skelton) is reaping the benefits of a lot of hard work and he's getting what he deserves. That's opportunity. They'll both catch. We've all watched enough baseball to know that you need two catchers, and we have to that we are very happy with."
On Fifth-Year Pitcher J.P. France
"He's going to pitch when it's important. I'll tell you that. Whether that's starting in the week or on the weekends, those kinds of things we need to figure out. Of course, the roles on the pitching staff are constantly in flux, and they change all year. And that's every year that they change. J.P. France is now healthy. He had a minor setback that cost him a couple of weeks in terms of preparation and strength and conditioning. He's competitive. He's experienced. He's tough. He has pitched really well for us. Right now until I figure out what we're going to do with the midweek games, hopefully we'll continue to pitch him when we have a lead. Could he start on Wednesday? Sure, but we have to get through tomorrow first."
Players Mentioned
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1B/LHP
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