Thursday, May 17
Starkville
6:30 PM
Mississippi State
vs
#1 Florida
The 2018 senior class will be recognized prior to Friday's game at Dudy Noble Field.
Photo by: Trevor Birchett/MSU Athletics
State To Close Regular Season At Home Against No. 1 Florida
May 16, 2018 | Baseball
STARKVILLE, Miss. – Entering the final weekend of the regular season, Mississippi State will face its most formidable foe of the season as it hosts defending national champion and No. 1 Florida at Dudy Noble Field.
The Diamond Dawgs (28-24, 12-15 SEC) and Gators (41-12, 20-7 SEC) will face off with a Southeastern Conference series that will commence Thursday at 6:30 p.m. CT. The series will resume and conclude Friday at 6 p.m. CT and Saturday at 3:30 p.m. CT, respectively. Thursday's opener will air on SEC Network+, while ESPNU will televise the second and third games of the series.
With postseason hopes hinging on the performance of the Diamond Dawgs down the stretch, State has posted an 9-5 mark over its last 14 games, including three wins over Arkansas and one each against Kentucky, Ole Miss and Texas A&M.
State is coming off a 2-2 week away from home that included a midweek win vs. Troy and a road win at No. 17 Kentucky. Currently riding an 11-game hit streak, junior second baseman Hunter Stovall batted .444 (8-for-18) last week with four runs scored, one triple, one home run and eight RBIs.
In a series that began in 1923, Florida holds a 64-45 advantage in the all-time series against State, along with a 24-22 mark against the Diamond Dawgs in Starkville. The Gators have won four-straight against MSU at Dudy Noble, a streak that started the last time the Bulldogs took a series from Florida in Starkville in 2013. The two sides last met in the 2017 SEC Tournament, with the Gators having won 12-3.
VIDEO: Gary Henderson & Hunter Stovall preview the regular-season finale vs. Florida
Game Notes | Live Stats
NEED TO KNOW
PROBABLE STARTERS
Thursday: MSU LHP Konnor Pilkington (2-6, 4.31 ERA) vs. UF RHP Tommy Mace (3-0, 5.49 ERA)
Friday: MSU LHP Ethan Small (5-3, 2.75 ERA) vs. UF RHP Brady Singer (10-1, 2.25 ERA)
Saturday: MSU TBA vs. UF RHP Jackson Kowar (9-2, 2.56 ERA)
WEATHER FORECAST
Thursday Forecast: High 84, Low 63 – Isolated Thunderstorms – 30% Chance of Rain
Friday Forecast: High 88, Low 64 – AM Thunderstorms – 20% Chance of Rain
Saturday Forecast: High 93, Low 67 – Mostly Sunny – 10% Chance of Rain
LIVE VIDEO/TELEVISION
Thursday's opener will air on SEC Network+ as part of SEC Network's Wild Card coverage to provide league-wide coverage on the final regular-season weekend. Friday and Saturday's games will both air nationally on ESPNU. All three games will be streamed live through WatchESPN.com and the Watch ESPN app.
Watch Thursday's Game | Watch Friday's Game | Watch Saturday'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 will 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
Prior to Thursday's series opener, a graduation ceremony will take place for the three Diamond Dawgs and two student managers that graduated from MSU earlier this month.
The 2018 senior class will be honored and recognized prior to Friday's game at Dudy Noble and Friday Night Fireworks will take place postgame.
The fourth set of Bulldog Baseball trading cards will be given out at the right field gate prior to Saturday's game and kids can run the bases following the conclusion of Saturday's game.
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 Florida are still available for purchase through HailState.com/tickets.
NEXT UP FOR MSU
State will turn its attention to postseason play, beginning with the SEC Tournament in Hoover, Ala. The tournament will begin Tuesday, May 22 and the Diamond Dawgs will learn of their game time and opponent following this weekend's action.
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."
The Diamond Dawgs (28-24, 12-15 SEC) and Gators (41-12, 20-7 SEC) will face off with a Southeastern Conference series that will commence Thursday at 6:30 p.m. CT. The series will resume and conclude Friday at 6 p.m. CT and Saturday at 3:30 p.m. CT, respectively. Thursday's opener will air on SEC Network+, while ESPNU will televise the second and third games of the series.
With postseason hopes hinging on the performance of the Diamond Dawgs down the stretch, State has posted an 9-5 mark over its last 14 games, including three wins over Arkansas and one each against Kentucky, Ole Miss and Texas A&M.
State is coming off a 2-2 week away from home that included a midweek win vs. Troy and a road win at No. 17 Kentucky. Currently riding an 11-game hit streak, junior second baseman Hunter Stovall batted .444 (8-for-18) last week with four runs scored, one triple, one home run and eight RBIs.
In a series that began in 1923, Florida holds a 64-45 advantage in the all-time series against State, along with a 24-22 mark against the Diamond Dawgs in Starkville. The Gators have won four-straight against MSU at Dudy Noble, a streak that started the last time the Bulldogs took a series from Florida in Starkville in 2013. The two sides last met in the 2017 SEC Tournament, with the Gators having won 12-3.
VIDEO: Gary Henderson & Hunter Stovall preview the regular-season finale vs. Florida
Game Notes | Live Stats
NEED TO KNOW
- In 19 of State's 28 wins thus far, opponents have been held to four runs or less. In three of the remaining six, opponents scored just five runs.
- The Diamond Dawgs have 15 comeback wins on the year (28 wins total), seven of which came in the month of March with the other eight having come in April (three against Ole Miss and two against Arkansas). In 2017, 25 of State's 40 wins were come-from-behind victories.
- Despite an up-and-down journey through this season, MSU has shown glimpses of what it is capable of. By going 5-2 against Arkansas, Ole Miss and Texas A&M in April, State improved to 6-1 on the year against top-five teams and has tallied 12 wins against ranked opponents this season.
- Holding a RPI of 92 on April 1, State has climbed 57 spots to No. 35 in just over six weeks by posting an 10-6 mark in the month of April and a 4-3 record in May with nine of those wins having come against ranked teams, six against teams ranked in the top five and five against top-three teams.
- Considering its cumulative opposition for the 2018 season, the Diamond Dawgs have the seventh-toughest schedule in all of Division I baseball with a winning percentage of .597 (1590-1075-1) on the year.
- MSU is 22-10 when holding opponents to five or less runs, 12-2 when holding others to two or less runs and 6-14 when allowing six or more runs. State is also 19-1 when scoring six or more runs, 17-5 when scoring first and 12-4 when having scored in the first inning.
- Over the last 10 games, the bats have been hot as seven different Bulldogs are averaging .300 or better at the plate during that stretch (Hunter Stovall – .422, Jordan Westburg – .417, Rowdey Jordan – .405, Elijah MacNamee – .372, Jake Mangum – .372, Tanner Allen – .318, Marshall Gilbert – .300). All seven have also recorded at least two extra-base hits and five RBIs over the last 10 games.
- With 116 doubles on the year, State leads the SEC and ranks eighth in the country in the category. 13 different Diamond Dawgs have tallied a double on the year, with Jake Mangum's 19 being a team best. Mangum ranks second in the league and 23rd nationally, while Hunter Stovall's 14 rank 10th in the SEC.
- Along with holding a league-best five triples, Tanner Allen ranks 26th nationally in the category.
- Mangum's 76 hits are the most in the conference and rank 25th in the country. Stovall ranks fourth in the SEC with 71 hits on the year.
- While Mangum leads MSU in multi-hit games (22), Hunter Stovall (19) and Tanner Allen (18) are the next closest to their junior center fielder.
- The MSU pitching staff has combined for 10+ strikeouts in 18 games this season.
- State's staff has also collected 26 or more punch outs in eight of its last 11 weekend series, with five of those having been 29+ strikeout weekends. The Bulldogs most recently struck out Kentucky 26 times.
- MSU is second in the SEC in batters struck out looking (146), while Konnor Pilkington leads the league in strikeouts looking (35).
- State's staff also ranks fourth in the league in batters struck out (471).
- As a team, State leads the league and ranks 15th in the nation in fielding double plays (49).
- Stovall ranks second in the SEC in fielding double plays (41) and Luke Alexander ranks fourth in the conference (35).
- The MSU defense also leads the SEC in runners caught stealing with 23 and is fifth in the league in runners picked off with seven.
- In just 34 appearances this year, Marshall Gilbert is third in the conference with 13 runners caught stealing. Dustin Skelton ranks 10th with seven.
PROBABLE STARTERS
Thursday: MSU LHP Konnor Pilkington (2-6, 4.31 ERA) vs. UF RHP Tommy Mace (3-0, 5.49 ERA)
Friday: MSU LHP Ethan Small (5-3, 2.75 ERA) vs. UF RHP Brady Singer (10-1, 2.25 ERA)
Saturday: MSU TBA vs. UF RHP Jackson Kowar (9-2, 2.56 ERA)
WEATHER FORECAST
Thursday Forecast: High 84, Low 63 – Isolated Thunderstorms – 30% Chance of Rain
Friday Forecast: High 88, Low 64 – AM Thunderstorms – 20% Chance of Rain
Saturday Forecast: High 93, Low 67 – Mostly Sunny – 10% Chance of Rain
LIVE VIDEO/TELEVISION
Thursday's opener will air on SEC Network+ as part of SEC Network's Wild Card coverage to provide league-wide coverage on the final regular-season weekend. Friday and Saturday's games will both air nationally on ESPNU. All three games will be streamed live through WatchESPN.com and the Watch ESPN app.
Watch Thursday's Game | Watch Friday's Game | Watch Saturday'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 will 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
Prior to Thursday's series opener, a graduation ceremony will take place for the three Diamond Dawgs and two student managers that graduated from MSU earlier this month.
The 2018 senior class will be honored and recognized prior to Friday's game at Dudy Noble and Friday Night Fireworks will take place postgame.
The fourth set of Bulldog Baseball trading cards will be given out at the right field gate prior to Saturday's game and kids can run the bases following the conclusion of Saturday's game.
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 Florida are still available for purchase through HailState.com/tickets.
NEXT UP FOR MSU
State will turn its attention to postseason play, beginning with the SEC Tournament in Hoover, Ala. The tournament will begin Tuesday, May 22 and the Diamond Dawgs will learn of their game time and opponent following this weekend's action.
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."
Players Mentioned
INF
/ Baseball
INF/OF
/ Baseball
C
/ Baseball
INF
/ Baseball
OF/1B
/ Baseball
OF
/ Baseball
LHP
/ Baseball
C
/ Baseball
LHP
/ Baseball
INF
/ Baseball
INF
/ BaseballDear Ol' State | Assistant Baseball Coach Matt Kirby | 9/2/2025
Tuesday, September 02
BASEBALL | Head Coach Brian O'Connor Welcome Event
Friday, June 06
BASEBALL | Mississippi State Head Coach Brian O'Connor Introductory Press Conference
Thursday, June 05
BASEBALL | Mississippi State AD Zac Selmon Meets Media After Introducing New Head Baseball Coach Brian O'Connor
Thursday, June 05