Diamond Dawg Gameday: North Alabama

STARKVILLE – Mississippi State returns home to host North Alabama in midweek non-conference action beginning at 6 p.m. CT on Tuesday, May 17, at Dudy Noble Field in Starkville.

The contest will be available on SEC Network+ with Bart Gregory and Charlie Winfield set to provide viewers a unique experience as they announce the game from Winfield's rig located in right-centerfield.

Tuesday's game 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

Tuesday, May 17 – 6 p.m. | Watch on SEC Network+ | Live Stats

PITCHING MATCHUP

Tuesday, May 17
- MSU: Cole Cheatham, LHP, Fr. (0-0, 4.50 ERA, 8-0 APP-GS, 10.0 IP, 13 SO, 10 BB)
- UNA: Jacob Bradshaw, RHP, So. (1-7, 7.85 ERA, 12-10 APP-GS, 55.0 IP, 38 SO, 37 BB)

DAWG BITES

Mississippi State enters the week with a 25-27 overall record through 52 games, including a 16-9 record in non-conference play. The Dawgs are 7-0 this season in midweek contests at home.

Mississippi State and North Alabama will meet for the 10th time on Tuesday in Starkville. The Diamond Dawgs own a 7-2 record over the Lions in the all-time series.

The series between State and North Alabama dates back to the 1986 season when the Diamond Dawgs won by a score of 7-0 in Starkville. Mississippi State has won four of the last five meetings.

Last season, Mississippi State hosted North Alabama and came away with an 18-1 victory over the Lions at Dudy Noble Field on March 24.

Offensively, the Diamond Dawgs are hitting .277 as a team with 88 doubles, five triples and 90 home runs on the season.

On the mound, Mississippi State pitchers are holding opponents to a .253 average at the dish, while Bulldog pitchers have struck out 553 batters and walked 245 in 454.2 innings.

State is currently ranked 13th in the country and fourth in the SEC with 90 home runs on the season. Freshman Hunter Hines ranks second nationally among freshmen with 15 home runs, while senior RJ Yeager leads the team with 17 home runs on the season, including 13 that have come in SEC games.

MSU's pitching staff enters the weekend ranked second in the SEC and seventh nationally in strikeouts per nine innings (10.9). Preston Johnson leads the team with 107 strikeouts in 13 appearances (12 GS), while he is ranked first among SEC pitchers and 10th nationally in strikeouts.

State second baseman RJ Yeager has been named one of five finalists for the 2022 Ferriss Trophy, which goes annually to the Most Outstanding Baseball Player in the state of Mississippi. Yeager leads the Diamond Dawgs this season with a .317 batting average in 51 games played, while he also paces the club with 17 home runs during the 2022 campaign. The senior from Lynn Haven, Florida, also ranks first on the team with 14 doubles and a .677 slugging percentage in his first season at Mississippi State.

Freshman lefty Cole Cheatham will make his first career start on the mound on Tuesday versus North Alabama. Cheatham has made eight appearances this season and enters the game with a 4.50 ERA in 10 innings of relief work.

THE COMPETITION

Opponent: North Alabama
Record: 12-37, 5-22 ASUN

North Alabama enters the midweek with a 12-37 overall record and a 7-15 mark in non-conference games this season. The Lions have won three straight entering Tuesday's game and are 1-24 in road games on the campaign.

The Lions are led by Mike Keehn in his 34th overall year and 14th as head coach at North Alabama. Keehn is the longest tenured coach in any sport in the history of UNA athletics and announced recently that he will be retiring at the end of this season.

North Alabama is 7-46 all-time against SEC teams. The Lions are 5-16 against the SEC in its last 21 games.

Offensively, North Alabama is hitting .261 as a team with 79 doubles, eight triples and 21 home runs. The Lions have 82 stolen bases on the season in 116 attempts. UNA is led by Luke Harper (.380) and Austin Thrasher (.349).

Opponents are hitting .323 against North Alabama pitchers, who have struck out 375 and walked 252 in 49 games this season.

TICKET INFORMATION

General Admission tickets are available for all midweek contests at Dudy Noble for only $5 and can be purchased online at HailState.com/tickets or at the Dudy Noble Field ticket office on gameday, beginning two hours prior to first pitch. With record crowds filling Dudy Noble all season, fans are encouraged to avoid the game day ticket office lines and purchase your tickets online in advance.

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: North Alabama

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Cole Cheatham

Hunter Hines

Preston Johnson

RJ Yeager

Mississippi State University Athletics

Diamond Dawg Gameday: North Alabama

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Cole Cheatham

Hunter Hines

Preston Johnson

RJ Yeager

Related Videos