Diamond Dawg Gameday: at Texas A&M

COLLEGE STATION, Texas – Mississippi State will open up a three-game SEC road series this weekend against Texas A&M beginning at 6:30 p.m. CT on Friday, May 13, at Blue Bell Park in College Station.

All three games will be available on SEC Network+, while the series finale will air nationally on SEC Network. The series will also be carried on the Mississippi State Sports Network powered by LEARFIELD along with a live audio stream via HailState.com/plus. Click HERE for a full list of the 2022 MSU Baseball Radio Affiliates.

GAME COVERAGE

Friday, May 13 – 6:30 p.m. | Watch on SEC Network+ | Live Stats
Saturday, May 14 – 2 p.m. | Watch on SEC Network+ | Live Stats
Sunday, May 15 – 12 p.m. | SEC Network | Watch on SEC Network+ | Live Stats

THE ROTATION

Friday, May 13
- MSU: Brandon Smith, RHP, Jr. (3-4, 4.58 ERA, 17-6 APP-GS, 55.0 IP, 53 SO, 13 BB)
- A&M: Nathan Dettmer, RHP, So. (5-2, 3.18 ERA, 12-12 APP-GS, 65.0 IP, 59 SO, 15 BB)
Saturday, May 14
- MSU: Preston Johnson, RHP, So. (3-3, 5.51 ERA, 12-11 APP-GS, 65.1 IP, 104 SO, 34 BB)
- A&M: TBA
Sunday, May 15
- MSU: Cade Smith, RHP, So. (4-2, 3.90 ERA, 12-12 APP-GS, 67.0 IP, 64 SO, 32 BB)
- A&M: TBA

DAWG BITES

Mississippi State enters the weekend with a 25-24 overall record through 49 games, including a 9-15 record in SEC play following last weekend's home series versus Florida.

Mississippi State and Texas A&M will meet for the 37th time in the series opener on Friday in College Station. The Diamond Dawgs own a 21-15 record over the Aggies in the all-time series.

The series between State and A&M dates back to the 1907 season when the two teams played twice in Starkville. Mississippi State won the first contest, 3-0, before Texas A&M won by a score of 10-1 the following day.

Last season, Mississippi State hosted Texas A&M and swept the Aggies in a three-game series in Starkville. In that series, State won the first two games by one run (W, 8-7; W, 3-2) before taking the series finale, 10-5, over Texas A&M to secure the sweep. The Diamond Dawgs won two out of three over Texas A&M in 2019 in College Station.

Offensively, the Diamond Dawgs are hitting .278 as a team with 82 doubles and 84 home runs on the season. MSU is out-scoring opponents 350-284 through 49 games.

On the mound, Mississippi State pitchers are holding opponents to a .252 average at the dish, while Bulldog pitchers have struck out 538 batters and walked 227 in 430.2 innings.

State is currently ranked 14th in the country and fourth in the SEC with 84 home runs on the season. Freshman Hunter Hines ranks second nationally among freshmen with 14 home runs, while senior RJ Yeager leads the team with 16 home runs on the season, including 12 that have come in SEC games.

MSU's pitching staff enters the weekend ranked first in the SEC and fourth nationally in strikeouts per nine innings (11.2). Preston Johnson leads the team with 104 strikeouts in 12 appearances (11 GS), while he is ranked first among SEC pitchers and ninth nationally in strikeouts.

State second baseman RJ Yeager leads the team with a .343 clip in 24 SEC games. In SEC play, Yeager has 12 home runs, nine doubles and 30 RBIs, while he is slugging .771 in league action.

In the last five games, Mississippi State freshman Hunter Hines is hitting a team-best .400 (8-for-20) for the Diamond Dawgs with a home run, two doubles, three walks and four RBIs.

THE COMPETITION

Opponent: No. 10 Texas A&M Aggies
Record: 30-16, 14-10 SEC

Texas A&M enters the weekend ranked as high as No. 10 nationally with a 30-16 overall record and 14-10 mark in SEC play. The Aggies are 19-9 in home games this season and have won their last three SEC home series.

The Aggies are 4-1 in their last five games and most recently took the series over South Carolina last weekend in College Station.

Offensively, Texas A&M is led by Jack Moss who is hitting .370 with 12 doubles, five home runs and 37 runs driven in this season. As a team, the Aggies are hitting .285 on the season with 88 doubles, eight triples and 57 home runs.

Opponents are hitting .256 against Texas A&M pitchers, who have struck out 430 and walked 154 in 46 games this season.

Visit www.HailState.com for the latest news and information on the baseball program. Fans can also follow the program on social media by searching 'HailStateBB' on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

Diamond Dawg Gameday: at Texas A&M

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Hunter Hines

Preston Johnson

Brandon Smith

Cade Smith

RJ Yeager

Mississippi State University Athletics

Diamond Dawg Gameday: at Texas A&M

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Hunter Hines

Preston Johnson

Brandon Smith

Cade Smith

RJ Yeager

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