Diamond Dawg Gameday: host Oregon State

by: Greg Campbell, Assistant Director/Communications

STARKVILLE – After a sun-splashed opening weekend and a week's worth of rain, the. sun will return just in time for the Mississippi State baseball program to host Oregon State in a three-game series beginning with a 1 p.m. first pitch on Friday, February 21.

The Diamond Dawgs and Beavers will continue the series on Saturday, Feb. 22 at 2 p.m. and conclude the series at 1 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 23. All three games will be available via SEC Network+ on the ESPN app and via espn.com/watch.

This will mark the first meeting between Mississippi State and Oregon State in the regular season, as MSU and OSU have only met at the College World Series (2013, 2018) prior to this weekend.

Gameday Info
Friday, February 21 (1 p.m.)
Probable Starters
MSU: Carlisle Koestler, RHP, Gr.
OSU: Christian Chamberlain, LHP, Jr.

Live Video: https://hailst.at/3bWsTaH
Live Audio: https://hailst.at/audio
Live Stats: https://hailst.at/2v1W6QN

Saturday, February 22 (2 p.m.)
Probable Starters
MSU: Christian MacLeod, LHP, R-Fr.
OSU: Jake Pfennigs, RHP, So.

Live Video: https://hailst.at/2PbfbXr
Live Audio: https://hailst.at/audio
Live Stats: https://hailst.at/2v21bbN

Sunday, February 23 (1 p.m.)
Probable Starters
MSU: Eric Cerantola, RHP, So.
OSU: Nathan Burns, RHP, Jr.

Live Video: https://hailst.at/39Supc0
Live Audio: https://hailst.at/audio
Live Stats: https://hailst.at/2T04sjL

Friday and Sunday's games can be heard on the Mississippi State Sports Network, along with a live audio stream via HailState.com/plus. Saturday's contest will be broadcast only locally on 96.1 FM.

Quick Hitters

Mississippi State and Oregon State will meet for the fifth time in program history and first time during the regular season. The series is tied at 2-2, with each team grabbing those wins at the College World Series. More on Page 3
A February-record 11,006 fans packed Dudy Noble Field on Saturday, February 15 versus Wright State to help MSU kick off the season in style. Overall, 28,688 fans attended the opening weekend at The Dude. MORE ON PAGE 9
Juniors Tanner Allen and Jordan Westburg each enter the weekend with 20-plus straight games reached base. Westburg (23) and Allen (22) carry those streaks over from the 2019 College World Series campaign. More on Page 8
Redshirt-freshman Christian MacLeod struck out 11 batters in his first career start versus Wright State on Saturday, February 15, the most by a Diamond Dawg in a season debut in program history. More on Page 8
Senior Riley Self owns 74 career relief appearances, a total that ranks No. 7 on MSU's career charts. He is just seven appearances shy of cracking the top five. More on Page 8
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. More on Page 9

Scouting The Opponent

Oregon State saw eight freshmen make their collegiate debuts during the opening weekend of the 2020 season. Six pitchers logged their first collegiate innings, while two positions players made starts for OSU.
Alex McGarry is the leading returning hitter, hitting .293 with 36 runs, 29 RBIs and a .401 on-base percentage in 2019. He is hitting .375 in four starts to kick off 2020.
OSU lost its top two hitters from 2019 in Adley Rutschman (.411) and Beau Philip (.311). They were the only two Beavers to post a batting average of .300 or better in 2019.
Christian Chamberlain picked up the win in the Opening Day start for OSU, throwing six innings and allowing just one run. He struck out five, walked two and allowed just one hit. In 2019, Chamberlain made 23 appearances (three starts) and owned a 3.83 ERA.
Former Oregon State student-athlete, Mitch Canham is in his first season as the head coach at his alma mater. Canham lettered at OSU from 2005-07, won national titles in 2006 and 2007 and managed 3 1/2 years in the Seattle Mariners' organization..

Series Notes

Friday will mark the first regular season meeting between Mississippi State and Oregon State and just the fifth meeting all-time between the two programs.
The four previous meetings came at the College World Series in 2013 and 2018. Three of the four games played in Omaha, Nebraska were for the right to advance to the NCAA College World Series Championship Series.
It will be the first regular season home series with a Pac-12 opponent since Oregon came to Dudy Noble Field for a three-game series in 2016. MSU took a return trip to play the Ducks in 2017.
Overall, MSU is 29-28 all-time against the current alignment of the Pac-12. The Bulldogs have faced nine of the 12 members of the conference, with Cal, Colorado and Utah the only members it has not faced on the diamond.

Promotions
Saturday: The first 1,000 fan will receive a Jake Mangum SEC Hits King Mini Bat.

Sunday: Kids Day at the Ballpark.

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 Maroon 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 Oregon State

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Tanner Allen

Eric Cerantola

Carlisle Koestler

Christian MacLeod

Jake Mangum

Riley Self

Jordan Westburg

Mississippi State University Athletics

Diamond Dawg Gameday: host Oregon State

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Tanner Allen

Eric Cerantola

Carlisle Koestler

Christian MacLeod

Jake Mangum

Riley Self

Jordan Westburg

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