Diamond Dawg Gameday: Arkansas State

STARKVILLE – The Mississippi State Bulldogs open up a nine-game homestand on Tuesday night at Dudy Noble Field when they host Arkansas State in a non-conference contest. First pitch from The Dude is set for 6 p.m.

This midweek contest will be broadcast on SEC Network+, with Sunday's game also on the SEC Network. The game 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 complete list of the 2023 MSU Baseball Radio Affiliates.

Gameday Info
Tuesday, March 21 (6 p.m.)
Probable Starters
MSU: Bradley Loftin (1-1), LHP, Fr.
ASU: Chase Armstrong (1-0), RHP, Fr.

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Quick Hitters

GOOD EYE: The Diamond Dawgs are finding ways to reach base this season, including drawing walks. The Bulldogs have drawn 145 base on balls this season, the fourth most in the NCAA. Seven different players have drawn ten or more walks this season. Colton Ledbetter leads the team with 28 walks this season. Luke Hancock follows with 22 walks, while Lane Forsythe is third with 21.
Ledbetter ranks 3rd in the nation in walks and first in the SEC.
Over the Dawgs' last five games, sophomore Hunter Hines has started heating up at the plate. Hines is hitting .526 over this span. He has recorded at least one hit in the last six games. He has an on-base percentage of .591 over the last five games. This includes hitting his first two multi-home run games of his career.
The Diamond Dawgs have been racking up strikeouts this season. Over the 21 games the Dawgs have played, they have tallied 235 Ks. The 235 punchouts are the seventh most in the NCAA this season. The staff ranks 13th in the country in strikeouts per nine innings, as they average 11.5.
Mississippi State has the BEST fans in collegiate baseball, which showed during the season's first two weeks. The Dawgs averaged the most fans on opening weekend and led the nation drawing 11,127 per game. Over the first eight home games of the season, the Dawgs are averaging 11,127 per game, the most in the NCAA.
Since March 4, the Dawgs have been showing off their power. Over this span, MSU has hit 20 homers over 11 games. They have hit 35 home runs this year, including a four-homer game against Lipscomb to close out the series. The 35 home runs this season are the 20th most in the NCAA. Eleven different players have hit a homer this season.
The Diamond Dawgs have flaunted their speed on the basepaths, accounting for 33 stolen bases, which is the most of any team in the Southeastern Conference.
The Bulldog's captain, Luke Hancock, was named to the 2023 Buster Posey award watch list on March 3rd, awarded to the best catcher in collegiate baseball.

Scouting the Opponent – Arkansas State

Tommy Raffo, a former player at State, leads the Red Wolves. This will be his second trip to play his alma mater, with the first coming in 2021.
Arkansas State enters the week with 52 doubles, averaging 2.89 doubles per game, leading the Sun Belt. This ranks inside the top 10 nationally in both.
Junior DH Brandon Hager enters the midweek games with a team-best nine-game on-base streak.
The Red Wolves come to Starkville with a record of 7-11 on the season and are looking at snapping a six-game losing streak.
Shortstop Kody Darcy is tied for the Sun Belt Conference lead with ten doubles on the season.

Series Notes

The Dawgs and Red Wolves meet for the 51st time on Tuesday when they play at Dudy Noble Field in a non-conference matchup.
This will be the first matchup since April 13, 2021, when the Dawgs came away with an 18-10 victory.
Mississippi State leads the all-time series 42-8.
The first matchup between these two programs was during the 1958 season.
MSU has won the last six games 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.

Diamond Dawg Gameday: Arkansas State

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Lane Forsythe

Luke Hancock

Hunter Hines

Colton Ledbetter

Bradley Loftin

Mississippi State University Athletics

Diamond Dawg Gameday: Arkansas State

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Lane Forsythe

Luke Hancock

Hunter Hines

Colton Ledbetter

Bradley Loftin

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