Diamond Dawg Gameday: Valparaiso

Tuesday, March 7

Starkville

6 p.m.

Mississippi State

Valparaiso

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PEARL, MS - February 28, 2023 - Mississippi State Infielder Amani Larry (#8), Mississippi State Outfielder Dakota Jordan (#42), and Mississippi State Colton Ledbetter (#10) during the game between the Southern Miss Golden Eagles and the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Trustmark Park in Pearl, MS. Photo By Jaden Powell

Photo by: Mississippi State Athletics

Diamond Dawg Gameday: Valparaiso

March 06, 2023 | Baseball

MSU Game Notes Valparaiso Game Notes Listen: Hail State On-Demand Live Stats Watch Live Game Day Central Buy Tickets

By: Travis Rae, Associate Director/Communications

STARKVILLE – After playing the last four games away from Dudy Noble Field, the Mississippi State Bulldogs return home on Tuesday to open a four-game homestand. The Diamond Dawgs host Valparaiso in a non-conference contest on Tuesday at 6 p.m.

The midweek contest will be broadcast on SEC Network+. It 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 7 (6 p.m.)
Probable Starters
MSU: Bradley Loftin (0-1), LHP, Fr.
VALPO: Griffin McCluskey (1-1), RHP, Jr.

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

Quick Hitters

After the Frisco Classic, Amani Larry and Nate Dohm earned All-Tournament honors. Larry hit .400 over the three games the Dawgs appeared in. He had two extra-base hits, with one being a home run.
Larry drove in one run for the Dawgs and drew four walks. Dohm made one appearance on the weekend, the best of any pitcher at the Frisco Classic. Dohm went five innings out of the pen on Sunday and only allowed one hit.
Junior Colton Ledbetter has shined in his first 12 games this season. Over the first 12 games of the season, Ledbetter has found ways to collect RBIs. He has 21 RBIs, the second most in the SEC. Over his last five games, Ledbetter has collected nine RBIs, including three against Southern Miss.
Nate Dohm has been a quality arm for the Dawgs out of the pen this season. He has pitched 12.1 innings, has 12 strikeouts on the season, and hasn't given up an earned run. Following the Frisco Classic, Dohm earned All-Tournament Team honors. Dohm was named to the NCBWA Stopper of the Year Watch List this season.
The Dawgs have a handful of players starting to heat up at the plate this season. Over the last five games, MSU has five players hitting .300 or better. Bryce Chance leads the team over this stretch, going 6-for-14 (.429). Over the last five games, the Dawgs have hit eight doubles and eight home runs.
Mississippi State is great at turning out major league talent, with 66 Diamond Dawgs reaching the highest level of the sport, but it is also great at keeping student-athletes on campus. The Dawgs returned one player, KC Hunt, who was drafted in the 12th round by the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2022.
Head Coach Chris Lemons is closing in on 150 wins as the Mississippi State head coach. He will become just the fifth coach in Mississippi State history to earn 150 wins. Lemonis currently has 147 wins at Mississippi State.
The Dawgs have stolen 21 bases this season, the second most by an SEC school this season and the 38th most in the NCAA. Over the last five games, the Dawgs have stolen eight bases. Colton Ledbetter has eight stolen bases, the most in the Southeastern Conference.
The Dawgs are finding a way to get on base this season. Over the season's first three weeks, MSU has drawn 85 walks, the seventh-best mark in the NCAA. They have an on-base percentage of .427 over the start of the season. Three players (Ledbetter, Lane Forsythe, Hancock) have drawn over ten walks this season. Ledbetter and Forsythe have drawn 13, the third most in the SEC.
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. Thus far, Hancock has proved worthy of the status, batting .342 on the year.
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.
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.

Scouting the Opponent

Valparaiso enters the matchup with the Bulldogs with a record of 6-3 on the season. They are currently on a seven-game, 11-day spring break road trip.
Valpo took two of three this past weekend, sweeping a doubleheader on Saturday before falling in the series finale at Little Rock.
Brian Schmack is in his 10th season leading the Beacons. He holds a record of 174-270 in his ten years.
Valpo has featured a flair for the dramatic this season, twice coming from behind to win with ninth-inning rallies. The first such comeback came on Feb. 25 at UT Martin, when Valpo was down to its final out in the top of the ninth when Nolan Tucker singled to tie the game at four. A bases-loaded hit by pitch helped Valpo produce the go-ahead run in the 10th, a game the Beacons won 5-4.
Valparaiso is off to the best start since 1985, with the team's 6-3 record through nine games.
The Beacons rank second in the Missouri Valley and 12th nationally with 1.89 home runs per game.
The Beacons lead the Missouri Valley in team ERA at 5.19.

Series Notes

The Dawgs and Beacons will meet on Tuesday night for the third time in program history. This is the first meeting since 2009.
The other two meetings occurred as part of a doubleheader in Starkville.
The Dawgs came away with two victories, 9-2 and 5-4.

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