Diamond Dawg Gameday: host Wright State

by: Greg Campbell, Assistant Director/Communications

STARKVILLE – After 239 days, the Mississippi State baseball program will be back on the field for the opening weekend of the 2020 season, hosting Wright State for a three-game series at Dudy Noble Field. The series begins on Friday, Feb. 14 at 1 p.m.

The Diamond Dawgs and Raiders will continue the series on Saturday, Feb. 15 at 1 p.m. and conclude the season opening series at 1 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 16. All three games will be available via SEC Network+ on the ESPN app and via espn.com/watch.

Parking information for Friday's afternoon contest can be found by clicking here.

This will mark the first meeting between Mississippi State and Wright State, as MSU holds a 4-0 record all-time against the current alignment of the Horizon League.

Gameday Info
Friday, February 14 (1 p.m.)
Probable Starters
MSU: JT Ginn, RHP, So.
WSU: Daniel Kreuzer, RHP, Jr.

Live Video: https://hailst.at/2vAssBV
Live Audio: https://hailst.at/audio
Live Stats: https://hailst.at/31QXDVT

Saturday, February 15 (2 p.m.)
Probable Starters
MSU: Christian MacLeod, LHP, R-Fr.
WSU: Bradley Brehmer, RHP, So.

Live Video: https://hailst.at/2vuNnGM
Live Audio: https://hailst.at/audio
Live Stats: https://hailst.at/2HmKNVP

Sunday, February 16 (1 p.m.)
Probable Starters
MSU: Eric Cerantola, RHP, So.
WSU: Austin Cline, RHP, Sr.

Live Video: https://hailst.at/2HkXXTh
Live Audio: https://hailst.at/audio
Live Stats: https://hailst.at/38px4tb

All of Mississippi State's postseason. Games can be heard on the Mississippi State Sports Network, along with a live audio stream via HailState.com/plus.

Quick Hitters

Mississippi State enters the season as a unanimous top-10 team for the first time since 2014, including a high ranking of No.4 in the USA Today/Coaches Poll.
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Fans flooded the gates at Dudy Noble Field in 2019, with a school-record 10 crowds of 10,000-plus. Diamond Dawg fans also set the school standard with an average attendance of 8,899.
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Juniors Tanner Allen and Jordan Westburg each enter the season with 20-plus straight games reached base. Allen (21) and Westburg (20) carry those streaks over from the 2019 College World Series campaign.
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Senior Riley Self enters 2020 with 72 career relief appearances, a total that ranks tied for No. 8 on MSU's career charts. He is just nine appearances shy of cracking the top 10 .
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Mississippi State will open the season against a team from Ohio for the third time in program history, defeating Cincinnati, 6-2, to start the 2015 season and Akron, 11-0, to begin the 2011 campaign.
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The Voice of the Diamond Dawgs, Jim Ellis, enters his 42nd season on the airwaves and was awarded the Wilbur Snypp Award from the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association, which is awarded yearly to someone for contributions to the game of college baseball.
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Scouting The Opponent

Since 2006, Wright State has made six appearances in the NCAA Tournament with two NCAA Regional finals reached (2015, Champaign Regional; 2016, Louisville Regional).
The Raiders have won the conference tournament to earn each of the NCAA Tournament berths, doing so in 2006, 2009, 2011, 2015, 2016 and 2018.
WSU has also won the Horizon League regular season championship on six occasions since 2006, with titles in 2010, 2011, 2014, 2016, 2018 and 2019.
Wright State has ranked among the top-10 in stolen bases each of the last three years, stealing 409 bases during that stretch, including 169 during the 2019 season, which ranked No. 2 nationally.
As a team, WSU ranked among the top 10 nationally in walks (5; 368), on-base percentage (4; .421), runs scored (8; 501), stolen bases (2; 169), triples (10; 23) and fielding percentage (7; .981) in 2019.

Series Notes

Mississippi State and Wright State will meet for the first time in program history.
In 2018-19, the Mississippi State men's basketball program defeated Wright State in a neutral site contest, 67-63, at Mississippi Coliseum in Jackson.
Against the current alignment of the Horizon League, Mississippi State owns a 4-0 record. The Bulldogs defeated UIC in the 2017 Hattiesburg Regional and swept a three-game series from Youngstown State to start the 2019 season.
State has begun a season against a team from the state of Ohio twice. MSU defeated Cincinnati, 6-2, to start the 2015 season and defeated Akron, 11-0, to begin the 2011 campaign..

Promotions
Friday: The first 1,000 students through the gates will receive a free DUDES t-shirt when checking in at the Hail State Rewards tent in right field.

Saturday: The first 1,000 fan will receive a 2019 OMADAWGS rally towel

Sunday: 2019 OMADAWGS stickers will be available while supplies last.

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.

Ticket Information
While reserved seating season tickets are sold out for the 34th straight season, general admission/standing room only season tickets are available for a cost of $199. GA/SRO season tickets can be purchased at the Mississippi State Ticket Office, located in the Bryan Building off of Lakeview Drive. Tickets can also be purchased by calling 1-888-GO-DAWGS or online at hailstate.com/tickets.

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.

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.".

Diamond Dawg Gameday: host Wright State

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Tanner Allen

Eric Cerantola

JT Ginn

Christian MacLeod

Riley Self

Jordan Westburg

Mississippi State University Athletics

Diamond Dawg Gameday: host Wright State

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Tanner Allen

Eric Cerantola

JT Ginn

Christian MacLeod

Riley Self

Jordan Westburg

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