Diamond Dawg Gameday: host Alabama

STARKVILLE – The No. 5 Mississippi State baseball program will host Alabama for a three-game series on Super Bulldog Weekend at Dudy Noble Field. The series opener on Friday, April 12 will begin at 6:30 p.m., before the final two games of the weekend with have 3 p.m. first pitch times on Saturday, April 13 and Sunday, April 14.

After the first two games will be carried on the SEC Network+, the duo of Clay Matvick & Ben McDonald will get their first taste of the "New Dude" as they will call Sunday's game on SEC Network.

Friday's meeting will be the 416th between the two programs, with the first meeting coming in 1896. While the Crimson Tide own the all-time series edge, 214-197-4, the Bulldogs are 17-8 over the last 25 meetings.

State has won three of its first four SEC series, with this weekend marking the midway point of the conference season. The Bulldogs own a 28-6 overall mark, which includes a 7-5 mark in SEC play. Overall, MSU has won six of seven weekend series in 2019, along with winning both games at the Frisco Classic, while owning an 11-0 mark in midweek contests.

Gameday Info
Friday, April 12, 2019
Probable Starters
MSU: Ethan Small, LHP, R-Jr.
UA: Sam Finnerty, RHP, Sr.

Live Video: https://hailst.at/2Kpmdbc
Live Audio: https://hailst.at/audio
Live Stats: https://hailst.at/2KDHZYK

Saturday, April 13, 2019
Probable Starters
MSU: Peyton Plumlee, RHP, Sr.
UA: Brock Love, RHP, R-Jr.

Live Video: https://hailst.at/2KtzRdu
Live Audio: https://hailst.at/audio
Live Stats: https://hailst.at/2KxoFMW

Sunday, April 14, 2019
Probable Starters
MSU: TBA
UA: TBA

Live Video: https://hailst.at/2KDI2no
Live Audio: https://hailst.at/audio
Live Stats: https://hailst.at/2KwwT7Z

Each contest can be heard on the Mississippi State Sports Network, along with a live audio stream via HailState.com/plus.

Quick Hitters

Senior Jake Mangum owns a hit in 80 percent of the games he has played in, which has him atop the Mississippi State hits chart and bearing down on the SEC's all-time mark. MORE ON PAGE 10-11
Mississippi State and Alabama have met 415 times on the diamond before this weekend's series, with Alabama owning a 214-197-4 edge on the all-time ledger. MORE ON PAGE 5
MSU won its second-straight road series to start the SEC season at Tennessee, marking just the second time in the last 10 seasons it has done so.
Fans have flooded the gates at Dudy Noble Field thus far in 2019, with four crowds of 10,000-plus through seven weeks, which is already tied for the third-most in program history. MORE ON PAGE 6
Senior Elijah MacNamee and sophomore Jordan Westburg picked up back-to-back SEC Player of the Week honors on March 18 and 25.
MORE ON PAGE 8
Redshirt-junior Ethan Small ranks No. 4 nationally in strikeouts and enters week nine atop the SEC charts with 79 Ks in 48 innings of work. MORE ON PAGE 7, 12 & 25
Head coach Chris Lemonis won his first four games as Mississippi State skipper. Lemonis is one of nine MSU head coaches to win his first career game and one of three to start 4-0 or better.
BIO ON PAGE 3, MORE ON PAGE 7

Series Notes
Alabama

Mississippi State and Alabama have met 415 times prior to this weekend's three-game series in Starkville, with Alabama owning a 214-197-4 edge on the all-time ledger.
The first meeting came between the two programs in 1896, with Alabama sweeping a two-game series in Tuscaloosa.
Mississippi State owns the longest winning streak of the series at 11 games between 1961-1964.
Alabama's longest winning has been nine games, claiming those between 1943-1947.
Three of the last four meetings have gone into extra innings, with State winning two of the three.
Over the last 10 games, Mississippi State is 8-2 against Alabama, while the Bulldogs have won 17 of the last 25 meetings in the series.

Promotions
Friday: Commemorative Will Clark baseballs will be available to the first 1,000 Fans, while live music will be in the plaza prior to the game. The third Friday Night Fireworks presented by Marathon Petroleum will take place following the game.

Saturday: Live music in the plaza prior to first pitch.

Sunday: Every Sunday is Kids Day at the Park, presented by Le Bohneur, with Kids Run the Bases Postgame (weather permitting). Also, the third set of Bulldog Baseball Trading Cards will be handed out to the first 1,000 fans.

The Drew Wilson 'Lil Dudes Zone located beyond the right field wall will be available when gates open, weather dependent.

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.

Dudy Noble Field Policies
Gates open two hours before first pitch on game day and the 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 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.

Tickets
Tickets for all of MSU's home 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.".

Mississippi State University Athletics

Diamond Dawg Gameday: host Alabama

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Ethan Small

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