Diamond Dawg Gameday: vs. Florida

STARKVILLE – Mississippi State Baseball will host Florida in a three-game SEC home series beginning at 7 p.m. CT on Friday, May 6, at Dudy Noble Field in Starkville.

The series opener will air nationally on SEC Network while game two on Saturday will be broadcast on ESPNU with Tom Hart and Kyle Peterson on the call for both contests. All three games will be available 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 6 – 7 p.m. | SEC Network | Watch on SEC Network+ | Live Stats
Saturday, May 7 – 6:30 p.m. | ESPNU | Watch on SEC Network+ | Live Stats
Sunday, May 8 – 1 p.m. | Watch on SEC Network+ | Live Stats

THE ROTATION

Friday, May 6
- MSU: Brandon Smith, RHP, Jr. (3-3, 3.75 ERA, 16-5 APP-GS, 50.1 IP, 50 SO, 8 BB)
- UF: Brandon Sproat, RHP, So. (5-4, 4.39 ERA, 12-11 APP-GS, 55.1 IP, 54 SO, 25 BB)
Saturday, May 7
- MSU: Preston Johnson, RHP, So. (3-3, 5.52 ERA, 11-10 APP-GS, 60.1 IP, 97 SO, 29 BB)
- UF: Brandon Neely, RHP, Fr. (2-0, 3.35 ERA, 15-4 APP-GS, 40.1 IP, 43 SO, 10 BB)
Sunday, May 8
- MSU: Cade Smith, RHP, So. (4-2, 4.20 ERA, 11-11 APP-GS, 60.0 IP, 57 SO, 30 BB)
- UF: TBA

DAWG BITES

Friday's series opener vs. Florida will mark the 117th meeting all-time between the two baseball programs with the Gators holding a slight edge with a 66-50 series record over the Dawgs. The series between the Dawgs and Gators dates back to the 1923 season when State defeated Florida twice by scores of 10-0 and 9-0 in Starkville under the direction of head coach C.R. "Dudy" Noble.

Mississippi State has won five of the last seven games over the Gators, including a 5-game winning streak from 2018-19. Since 2010, the Diamond Dawgs and Gators are tied with six wins apiece in games played at Dudy Noble Field in Starkville. The last time Florida traveled to Starkville in 2018, MSU swept the Gators in a three-game series at The Dude.

Mississippi State enters the weekend with a 25-20 overall record through 45 games, including a 9-12 record in SEC play following last weekend's road series at Missouri.

The Dawgs are returning home this weekend to host Florida in league action following a seven-game stretch away from Dudy Noble Field that spanned from April 21 until the series finale at Mizzou on May 1.

State is currently ranked eighth in the country and second in the SEC with 83 home runs on the season. Hunter Hines ranks second nationally among freshmen with 14 home runs, while RJ Yeager leads the Diamond Dawgs with 16 home runs on the season, including 12 that have come in SEC games. Yeager had four home runs last week and hit .450 while driving in eight RBIs in the series at Mizzou.

Offensively, the Diamond Dawgs are hitting .280 as a team with 74 doubles and 83 home runs on the season. Overall, Mississippi State outfielder Brad Cumbest leads the team with a .319 batting average through 45 games. State second baseman RJ Yeager leads the team with a .355 batting average in SEC play (21 games) with 12 home runs, six doubles and 28 RBIs. He is slugging .806 in league action.

Freshman Hunter Hines is hitting .455 (10-for-22) in the last five games with two home runs, a double and seven RBIs, while RJ Yeager is batting .440 (11-for-25) over that stretch with five home runs, two doubles and 10 RBIs.

On the mound, opponents are hitting .250 against the Dawgs' pitching staff, while MSU pitchers have struck out 494 batters and walked 201 in 395.2 innings. Preston Johnson leads the team with 97 strikeouts in 11 appearances (10 GS), while he is ranked first among SEC pitchers and eighth nationally in strikeouts.

THE COMPETITION

Opponent: Florida Gators
2022 Record: 26-18, 8-13 SEC

Florida enters the weekend with a 26-18 overall record and 8-13 mark in SEC play. The Gators have lost won three of their last four including a midweek win over South Florida and and a series win last weekend over Kentucky in Gainesville.

The Gators are heading to Starkville after playing their last eight games at home. Florida is 7-8 this season in road games, including a 3-6 mark in SEC road games.

UF ranks 5th in the SEC Eastern Division standings entering the series. The Gators are one game ahead of Kentucky and Missouri in the standings.

Offensively, Florida ranks 13th out of 14 SEC teams in batting average (.275 BA), while they are 8th in pitching (4.48 ERA).

PROMOTIONS/GIVEAWAYS

Friday, May 6 – First Pitch: 7 p.m.

Friday Night Fireworks – Friday Night Fireworks presented by Pearl River Resort return to Dudy Noble Field this season! Fireworks will begin following the completion of the series opener between Mississippi State and Florida.
Ring of Honor Baseball Giveaway #1 – Mississippi State will be giving out Ring of Honor commemorative baseballs each day of the three-game SEC series versus Florida, beginning with 2022 inductee Frank Montgomery for the series opener (while supplies last).

Saturday, May 7 – First Pitch: 6:30 p.m.

Ron Polk Ring of Honor Ceremony – The Ron Polk Ring of Honor will induct Richard Lee, Frank Montgomery and Pete Young on Saturday beginning at 3 p.m. on the Adkerson Plaza at Dudy Noble Field.
- The right field gates to Dudy Noble Field will open for the ceremony at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday. The ceremony begins at 3 p.m. and is open to the public. No ticket is required for the Ring of Honor ceremony.
Atlanta Braves World Champions Trophy Tour – Following their historic World Series Championship season, the Atlanta Braves are taking the 2021 World Series Trophy on tour with 151 stops across the Southeast, including a day at The Dude on Saturday, May 7, from 5-8 p.m. when Mississippi State hosts Florida. Fans are invited to take photos with the coveted 2021 Braves World Series Trophy and Mississippi State's 2021 National Championship trophy all in one place while enjoying the game.
- A game ticket is required for entry while both trophies will be located at the left field concourse area.
Ring of Honor Baseball Giveaway #2 – Mississippi State will be giving out Ring of Honor commemorative baseballs each day of the three-game SEC series versus Florida, including 2022 inductee Richard Lee for game two of the series (while supplies last).

Sunday, May 8 – First Pitch: 1 p.m.

Celebrate Mother's Day at The Dude – Mississippi State will honor moms in attendance for Sunday's series finale by giving away flowers to mothers upon entry into the stadium (while supplies last). An Arts & Crafts area will also be available in Bully's Kid Zone for young Bulldog fans to create Mother's Day cards during the game.
Ring of Honor Baseball Giveaway #3 – Mississippi State will be giving out Ring of Honor commemorative baseballs each day of the three-game SEC series versus Florida, including 2022 inductee Pete Young for the series finale (while supplies last).
Trading Card Giveaway – Fans in attendance for the series finale will receive the third of four sets of Mississippi State Baseball trading cards upon entry into the stadium (while supplies last).

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: vs. Florida

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Brad Cumbest

Hunter Hines

Preston Johnson

Brandon Smith

Cade Smith

RJ Yeager

Mississippi State University Athletics

Diamond Dawg Gameday: vs. Florida

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Brad Cumbest

Hunter Hines

Preston Johnson

Brandon Smith

Cade Smith

RJ Yeager

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