Diamond Dawg Gameday: Ole Miss

STARKVILLE – Super Bulldog Weekend 2023 is finally here, as the Mississippi State Bulldogs welcomes the Ole Miss Rebels to Dudy Noble Field. The series begins on Friday at 6 p.m., continues on Saturday at 3 p.m., and concludes Sunday at 1 p.m.

All three games will be broadcast on SEC Network+, with Saturday's game airing on the SEC Network. The games 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, April 14 (6 p.m.)
Probable Starters
MSU: Cade Smith (1-1), RHP, Jr.
UM: Jack Dougherty (2-3), RHP, Jr.

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Gameday Info
Saturday, April 15 (3 p.m.)
Probable Starters
MSU: Landon Gartman (2-2), RHP, Jr.
UM: Xavier Rivas (5-2), LHP, Jr.

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Gameday Info
Sunday, April 16 (1 p.m.)
Probable Starters
MSU: Jurrangelo Cijntje (3-2), BHP, Fr.
UM: JT Quinn (3-0), RHP, Fr.

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Quick Hitters

The Dawgs have hit 59 home runs, the 14^th-best mark in the NCAA. In its three-game set against Alabama, MSU hit seven homers, four in the first game of the series and three in the series finale. The Dawgs have hit a home run in 27 of 34 games this season, including a homer in six of the last seven games.
Freshman Dakota Jordan is on the longest hitting streak of his career at nine games. Over those nine games, Jordan is hitting .516, the best mark on the team. He has gone 16-for-31 with eight extra-base hits. Three of those extra-base hits have been home runs. One of those homers hit the left field lofts at Dudy Noble Field.
Sophomore Nate Dohm was named to the NWBCA Stopper of the Year Watch List, and we can see why. He has made nine appearances out of the bullpen this year and holds an ERA of 0.77. In the 23.1 innings pitched in relief, he has 25 strikeouts and four wins while picking up two saves. Dohm is holding opponents to a .163 batting average.
The Diamond Dawgs have been racking up strikeouts this season. Over 34 games, the Dawgs have tallied 363 Ks. The 363 punchouts are the eighth most in the NCAA, and second most in the SEC this season. The staff ranks 10th in the country in strikeouts per nine innings, averaging 11.2. Five pitchers have 30 or more punchouts this season, Bradley Loftin (43), Landon Gartman (43), Jurrangelo Cijntje (41), Nate Dohm (37), and Colby Holcombe (34).
Ross Highfill exploded at the plate in game three against Lipscomb. He hit three home runs, becoming the first Bulldog to do such since Brent Rooker did on April 8, 2017. He then added two homers against Alabama in the series' first game.
Over 34 games of the season, the Diamond Dawgs have racked up 70 doubles, which is second best in the SEC. They are averaging 2.06 doubles per game. Over the five years under Coach Lemonis, the Dawgs have had two seasons with over 100 doubles.
Sophomore Hunter Hines has been on a tear over the last nine games. Over the span, the Dawgs' sophomore is hitting .459. He leads the team in hits (18), home runs (4), and RBIs (15) over the last nine games. He has hit safely in eight of the last nine games.
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. The Dawgs will have seven on Opening Day MLB rosters. This season, the Dawgs had seven players on Opening Day Rosters.
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. The Dawgs average 10,708 per game, the second most in the NCAA.
The Bulldog's captain, Luke Hancock, was named to the 2023 Buster Posey Award Watch List. This award goes to the best catcher in collegiate baseball.

Scouting the Opponent – Ole Miss

Mike Bianco is in his 23^rd season as the head coach of the Rebels. He holds a 873-499-1 record while at Ole Miss.
Ole Miss enters the weekend with an overall record of 19-14. They have a conference record of 2-10 with series losses to #6 Vanderbilt, #3 Florida, Texas A&M and #5 Arkansas.
The Rebels finished 42-23 on the 2022 campaign, with a 14-16 conference record, before ultimately winning the National Championship.
Ole Miss ranks 24^th nationally in home runs, with a total of 55. Kemp Alderman leads the squad with 14, which ranks in the top-10 individually.
The Rebels' pitching staff enters the weekend with a 5.66 ERA.
Ole Miss bats .299 as a squad. They are led by Calvin Harris, who is batting .376 on the season.
Xavier Rivas leads the Rebels in victories (5).

Series Notes

The Dawgs and the Rebels meet for the 468^th time on Friday when they begin the three-game series.
In last year's series, Mississippi State took two out of three against the Rebels, including an 11th inning victory win in game three.
State leads the all-time series 260-208-5.
The Dawgs have not dropped a series against Ole Miss since 2015.
The first matchup between these two programs was during in 1892.

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: Ole Miss

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Jurrangelo Cijntje

Nate Dohm

Landon Gartman

Luke Hancock

Ross Highfill

Hunter Hines

Colby Holcombe

KC Hunt

Dakota Jordan

Bradley Loftin

Cade Smith

Mississippi State University Athletics

Diamond Dawg Gameday: Ole Miss

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Jurrangelo Cijntje

Nate Dohm

Landon Gartman

Luke Hancock

Ross Highfill

Hunter Hines

Colby Holcombe

KC Hunt

Dakota Jordan

Bradley Loftin

Cade Smith

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