Diamond Dawg Gameday: VMI

STARKVILLE – Opening weekend is here! The Mississippi State Bulldogs return to Dudy Noble Field for the first game of the 2023 season on Friday when they host VMI in a three-game series in Starkville. First pitch on Friday is set for 3 p.m. CT, with Saturday slated for a 2 p.m. start and the series finale is set for 1 p.m.

All three games will be broadcast 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/Listen. Click HERE for a full list of the 2023 MSU Baseball Radio Affiliates.

Gameday Info
Friday, Feb. 17 (3 p.m.)
Probable Starters
MSU: Cade Smith, RHP, Jr.
VMI: Roberto Velasquez, RHP, So.

Live Video: hailst.at/3I5Uwim
Live Audio: hailst.at/audio
Live Stats: hailst.at/StatBroadcast

Saturday, Feb. 18 (2 p.m.)
Probable Starters
MSU: KC Hunt, RHP, Jr.
VMI: Holden Wilkerson, RHP, So.

Live Video: hailst.at/41cL2uu
Live Audio: hailst.at/audio
Live Stats: hailst.at/StatBroadcast

Sunday, Feb. 19 (1 p.m.)
Probable Starters
MSU: Landon Gartman, RHP, Jr.
VMI: Will Lopez, LHP, R-Sr.

Live Video: hailst.at/3Ee6AwQ
Live Audio: hailst.at/audio
Live Stats: hailst.at/StatBroadcast

Opening Weekend Promotions/Giveaways

Friday, Feb. 17 – First 1,000 fans will receive Opening Day rally Towels; The first 1,000 students will receive Dude shirts.
Saturday, Feb. 18 – First 1,000 fans will receive a pennant.
Sunday, Feb. 19 – Following the contest, kids run the bases.

Quick Hitters

Luke Hancock, a multi-year starter for Mississippi State, will be sporting the eye-catching "C" on his jersey this season. As he prepares for his fifth year with the Diamond Dawgs.
The Dawgs open the season at home for the second straight season. MSU will host the first eight games of the season at Dudy Noble Field. Following the three-game series with VMI, the Dawgs host ULM for a midweek set.
It's been written about. It's been Tweeted about. It's been talked about. It's what has become known as The Dude Effect. If anyone had forgotten or doubted that the best home-field advantage in all of college baseball is inside the confines of Mississippi State's Dudy Noble Field. Opponents don't simply have to defeat the Diamond Dawgs. Visitors have to conquer the cowbell-crazed home crowd as well.
The Diamond Dawgs saw two players, Colton Ledbetter, and Amani Larry, earn Preseason All-American honors.
The Dawgs will have two players on the roster this season that have made appearances in the Little League World Series. During the 2015 Little League World Series, David Mershon made an appearance with Taylors, South Carolina, representing the Southeast Region and Northwood Little League. Also making an appearance in the LLWS was Jurrangelo Cijntje during the 2016 tournament. Cijntje appeared with Willemstad, Curaçao of the Caribbean Region. He represented Pariba Little League.
Did you know that the Diamond Dawgs are one of three programs in NCAA History and the only Southeastern Conference program to play in the NCAA Men's College World Series in six-straight decades.
The opening weekend against VMI is the first meeting between these two programs in school history. This will be the eighth team under Coach Lemonis that the Dawgs will see for the first time.
Mississippi State's Luke Hancock and Colton Ledbetter are two of 25 players selected to the Preseason All-SEC baseball teams by the league's coaches. Hancock was named second-team catcher, while Ledbetter was named a second-team outfielder.

Scouting the Opponent

VMI enters the 2023 season with a brand-new coach leading the program. Sam Roberts enters his first season as the head coach after being an assistant coach on staff since 2017.
Last season the Keydets finished the season with a record of 16-40 on the season and 6-15 in the Southern Conference.
Last season, the Keydets opened the season with a 10-5 victory at Duke. That was one of two wins over teams from the ACC and Big Ten.
Zac Morris returns to the team this season after leading the team at the plate in 2022. Morris hit .332 on the season with 10 home runs and 41 RBIs.
As a team, the Keydets hit .271 and had 50 home runs. The had an on base percentage of 353.
Tyler Kaltreider returns on the mound for VMI. Kaltreider led the team in wins (3) last season.

Series Notes

This is the first meeting between these two programs.

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.

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Jurrangelo Cijntje

Landon Gartman

Luke Hancock

KC Hunt

Amani Larry

Colton Ledbetter

David Mershon

Cade Smith

Mississippi State University Athletics