Diamond Dawg Gameday: host Texas Southern/Alcorn State

by: Greg Campbell, Assistant Director/Communications

STARKVILLE – Dudy Noble Field will host a pair of games this week to close out the eight-game homestand to start the 2020 campaign. The Diamond Dawgs will kick off the week with a 4 p.m. first pitch versus Texas Southern on Tuesday (Feb. 25).

The homestand ends with a 4 p.m. first pitch versus Alcorn State on Wednesday (Feb. 26), before the team departs for a three-game series at Long Beach State. State owns a combined 18-0 record against the two Southwest Athletic Conference opponents all-time.

In all, Mississippi State has met nine of the 10 schools in the current alignment of the conference, with only Prairie View A&M never appearing on the MSU schedule. State has played 116 games against the conference and walked away with 107 wins.

Gameday Info
Tuesday, February 25 (4 p.m.)
Probable Starters
MSU: KC Hunt, RHP, Fr.
TSU: Camden Guarnere, RHP, Fr.

Live Video: https://hailst.at/32mPc4Q
Live Audio: https://hailst.at/audio
Live Stats: https://hailst.at/38XRxFM

Wednesday, February 26 (4 p.m.)
Probable Starters
MSU: TBA
ACU: TBA

Live Video: https://hailst.at/2SVkxIL
Live Audio: https://hailst.at/audio
Live Stats: https://hailst.at/38UnCys

Quick Hitters

Mississippi State will play a pair of midweek games against teams from the Southwestern Athletic Conference. The Diamond Dawgs are 107-9 all-time against the SWAC.
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For the second straight weekend, the MSU faithful showed up in record numbers with a February-best 12,034 fans showing up on Saturday versus Oregon State. Overall, 57,228 fans have flooded The Dude over the first two weekends.
MORE ON PAGE 9
Juniors Tanner Allen and Jordan Westburg each enter the week with 20-plus straight games reached base. Westburg (26) and Allen (24) carry those streaks over from the 2019 College World Series campaign.
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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.
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Senior Riley Self owns 75 career relief appearances, a total that ranks No. 7 on MSU's career charts. He is just six appearances shy of cracking the top five.
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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.
More on Page 9

Scouting The Opponent

Texas Southern
Outfielder Tyson Thompson (Sr.) was named to the All-SWAC preseason first team whereas infielders Oscar Ponce (R-Jr.) and Nic Garza (Sr.) made the second seam.
Thompson is the leading returning bat this season for the Tigers. In his junior campaign, he led the offense with a .365 batting average and a .478 on-base percentage.
Alcorn State
Senior outfielder Brandon Rembert was named to the Preseason All-SWAC first team. Last season, Rembert placed fifth in the conference with a .345 batting average.
The Braves return the majority of their starting lineup from a season ago, as seven of the eight starters in the field return for 2020 campaign.

Series Notes

Texas Southern
Tuesday will mark the third meeting between Texas Southern and Mississippi State with the previous two meetings coming in 2018 and 2019.
Dudy Noble Field has hosted each of the meetings between the Bulldogs and Tigers.
Alcorn State
Wednesday will be the 17th meeting all time between Alcorn State and Mississippi State with the first meeting coming in 1993.
It will be the first time since 2015 and only the second time all time that Mississippi State and Alcorn State have played each other in the month of February.

Promotions
Tuesday: Stranger Things Night at The Dude.

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 Texas Southern/Alcorn State

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Tanner Allen

KC Hunt

Christian MacLeod

Riley Self

Jordan Westburg

Mississippi State University Athletics

Diamond Dawg Gameday: host Texas Southern/Alcorn State

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Tanner Allen

KC Hunt

Christian MacLeod

Riley Self

Jordan Westburg

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