MSU To Host No. 3 Arkansas For #SBW18

Friday, April 20

Starkville

6:30 PM

Mississippi State

#6 Arkansas

Considering its cumulative opposition for the 2018 season, the Diamond Dawgs have the fifth-toughest schedule in all of Division I baseball.

Photo by: Trevor Birchett/MSU Athletics

MSU To Host No. 3 Arkansas For #SBW18

April 19, 2018 | Baseball

Game Notes (PDF)VIDEO | Henderson & Pilkington preview #SBW18 Buy Tickets

STARKVILLE, Miss. – The biggest home weekend of the spring for Mississippi State involves a top-notch matchup with No. 3 Arkansas descending upon Dudy Noble Field for Super Bulldog Weekend.

The Diamond Dawgs (19-19, 5-10 SEC) and Razorbacks (28-10, 10-5 SEC) will face off with a three-game Southeastern Conference series that will commence Friday at 6:30 p.m. CT. The series will resume and conclude Saturday at 6 p.m. and Sunday at 1 p.m., respectively. All three games will air live on SEC Network+.

Super Bulldog Weekend, spring semester's version of fall homecoming, includes Diamond Dawg baseball and Bulldog softball, along with the Maroon & White spring football game, Old Main Music and Cotton Districts Arts festivals, and much more. For a full weekend schedule and additional information, visit HailState.com/SBW.

State holds a 53-48 advantage in the all-time series against the Razorbacks, with a 26-16 advantage in games played in Starkville. The Diamond Dawgs went 1-4 against Arkansas last year with victory having come in the SEC Tournament. MSU has won five straight games against the Hogs at Dudy Noble Field, dating back to 2015.

VIDEO: Coach Gary Henderson and Konnor Pilkington met previewed the series vs. Arkansas

Game Notes | Live Stats

NEED TO KNOW

In 17 of State's 19 wins thus far, opponents have been held to four runs or less.
The Diamond Dawgs have nine comeback wins on the year, seven of which came in the month of March with the other two having come in April against then-No. 3 Ole Miss. In 2017, 25 of State's 40 wins were come-from-behind victories.
Currently sitting 67th in the latest RPI rankings, State has plenty of opportunities on the horizon to improve its positioning. All 17 of MSU's remaining regular-season games are against top-54 RPI teams. 13 of those games will be against teams with an RPI of 15 or better.
Considering its cumulative opposition for the 2018 season, the Diamond Dawgs have the fifth-toughest schedule in all of Division I baseball.
MSU is 18-8 when holding opponents to five or less runs, 12-2 when holding others to two or less runs and 1-11 when allowing six or more runs. State is also 11-0 when scoring six or more runs, 13-3 when scoring first and 10-2 when having scored in the first inning.
The MSU pitching staff has combined for 10+ strikeouts in 12 games this season.
State's staff has also collected 26 or more punch outs in five of its last seven weekend series, with four of those having been 29+ strikeout weekends.
While Mangum leads MSU in multi-hit games (18), Hunter Stovall (14), Tanner Allen (12) and Josh Hatcher (11) are the next closest to their junior center fielder.
MSU leads the SEC in batters struck out looking (112), while Konnor Pilkington leads the league in strikeouts looking (30) and Ethan Small ranks fifth (19).
State's staff also ranks fourth in the league in batters struck out (354).
Pilkington ranks 27th in all of Division I baseball and second in the SEC with a 7.11 strikeout-to-walk ratio.
Stovall has recorded the second-most fielding double plays in the SEC (29), while Hatcher ranks fifth in the conference with 25 and Luke Alexander is sixth (24). No other SEC team has a trio ranking in the top 13.
As a team, State is tied for second in the league and ranks 22nd in the nation in fielding double plays (35).
The MSU defense also leads the SEC in runners caught stealing with 17 and is third in the league in runners picked off with seven.
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 45 on March 2-3, 2002 against Jacksonville State (doubleheader on March 2).
The Diamond Dawgs began the year with 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). 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).
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 12 newcomers have made their MSU thus far in 2018 (Tanner Allen, Jordan Anderson, JP France, Justin Foscue, Marshall Gilbert, Josh Hatcher, Rowdey Jordan, Jared Liebelt, Cole Marsh, Zach Neff, Alex Pener and Jordan Westburg), eight of those have also recorded a start this season.

STATE SPEAKS
Head Coach – Gary Henderson
On Arkansas...
"Dave (Van Horn)'s club has a lot of balance, depth in the bullpen and good offensive players that are right and left-handed. They have great power, and are getting really good as the season goes on."

On (Konnor) Pilkington staying focused…
"There's a level of maturity it takes to be able to understand the things you need to focus on. I think Konnor does a great job of preparing each week. I think he does a great job focusing each week on the things he can control, and what he really needs to be focused on. Last week, his command of the curveball and the change were as good as it's been all year. You need to focus on those things. For anyone who plays baseball, there are short-term frustrations. That's just part of it. If you're going to pitch, you really need to focus on the things you can control. You take it pitch-by-pitch, and not worry about the other things. The list of things you could choose to focus on is endless. If you don't pick the right things, then it just won't go well. He's done a really nice job of focusing on the things he can control, and what he can get better at."

On Super Bulldog Weekend…
"I think any time we play at home the kids are excited. We have great fans and a great ballpark. They have done a good job getting ready for the weekend, and it should be exciting."

LHP - Konnor Pilkington – Jr.
On his leadership…
"I try to lead the team at the mound being the starting pitcher every week. I try to set a tone that carries throughout the rest of the weekend. I try to give us a solid start every weekend. If I'm messing around off the field, then I won't be able to take my job seriously on the mound. Truly, everything I do is more serious. Even though we are not having the season we want, I still take the same approach with the same mindset."

On staying positive as a team…
"We are trying to stay positive, help each other and encourage each other. It's hard because we have a lot of freshman and JUCO guys who have never experience the SEC. It's competitive every single game. It doesn't matter if it's a midweek or and SEC game. Every team is getting better."

On Super Bulldog Weekend…
"It's exciting every year. We're going in this weekend like we want to win a series. That's how we take every weekend, and I don't think this weekend should be any more hype than the other weekends."

SCOUTING THE RAZORBACKS
Against the toughest schedule in the country according to cumulative opposition, Arkansas is riding a three-game win streak after a series win over South Carolina and a midweek victory against Missouri State. Arkansas is 9-1 over its last 10 games and is currently leading the SEC in batting average (.309), hits (400) and home runs (60). The Razorbacks currently rank second in the league in slugging percentage (.509), on-base percentage (.410), runs batted in (267) and total bases (659).

PROBABLE STARTERS
Friday: MSU LHP Konnor Pilkington (2-5, 2.57 ERA) vs. ARK RHP Blaine Knight (6-0, 1.95 ERA)
Saturday: MSU LHP Ethan Small (3-3, 2.94 ERA) vs. ARK LHP Kacey Murphy (5-2, 2.00 ERA)
Sunday: MSU RHP Jacob Billingsley (2-2, 4.08 ERA) vs. ARK RHP Isaiah Campbell (3-3, 3.44 ERA)

WEATHER FORECAST
Friday Forecast: High 69, Low 43 – Sunny – 10% Chance of Rain
Saturday Forecast: High 72, Low 53 – Mostly Cloudy – 0% Chance of Rain
Sunday Forecast: High 65, Low 54 – Thunderstorms – 100% Chance of Rain

LIVE VIDEO/TELEVISION
This weekend'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 Friday's Game | Watch Saturday's Game | Watch Sunday'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
All of this weekend's games are scheduled to air live on the Mississippi State Baseball Radio Network and WKBB 100.9 in Starkville. With Jim Ellis and former Diamond Dawg Jay Powell on the call, the contests 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. Stadium gates will close one hour after the conclusion of each game. 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, electric power generators, 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
Friday Night Fireworks will take place shortly following the conclusion of the series opener. Live music will take place this weekend in the right field plaza prior to Friday's and Saturday's games. Jeffery Rupp will perform Friday, with Bill Cook taking his turn Saturday.

For the series finale, the second set of 2018 Bulldog Baseball Trading Cards will be given to the first 1,000 fans. Kids will also run the baseball shortly following the conclusion of the series finale.

For all regular season home games at Dudy Noble, 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.

Fans can upgrade their game day experience with multiple options throughout the year from HailState.com/memories.

TICKETS
Tickets for all three of this weekend's games against Arkansas are still available for purchase through HailState.com/tickets.

NEXT UP FOR MSU
State will have its fourth-meeting of the season with in-season rival Ole Miss for the annual Governor's Cup at Trustmark Park in Pearl, Miss. The Diamond Dawgs and Rebels will get underway with a 6:02 p.m. CT first pitch on SEC Network. Tickets remain available for purchase at 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."