Diamond Dawg Gameday: at Tennessee

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The Mississippi State Bulldogs travel to Knoxville for the first time since 2019 when they take on the Tennessee Volunteers. The three game series begins on Thursday at 6 p.m., continuing Friday at 5:30 p.m., and concluding Saturday at 1 p.m.

Thursday's game will broadcast on the SEC Network, with Friday's game set for SECN+ and Saturday's game set for ESPNU. 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
Thursday, April 27 (6 p.m. CT)
Probable Starters
MSU: Cade Smith (1-1), RHP, Jr.
UT: Andrew Lindsey (0-2), RHP, Jr.

LIVE VIDEO: hailst.at/40Gxypg
LIVE AUDIO: hailst.at/audio
LIVE STATS: hailst.at/2uNHwIN

Gameday Info
Friday, April 28 (5:30 p.m. CT)
Probable Starters
MSU: TBD
UT: Chase Dollander (5-4), RHP, Jr.

LIVE VIDEO: hailst.at/3V6Mig1
LIVE AUDIO: hailst.at/audio
LIVE STATS: hailst.at/2uNHwIN

Gameday Info
Saturday, April 29 (1 p.m. CT)
Probable Starters
MSU: Jurrangelo Cijntje (3-2), BHP, Fr.
UT: Drew Beam (5-2), RHP, So.

LIVE VIDEO: hailst.at/3VbHcPv
LIVE AUDIO: hailst.at/audio
LIVE STATS: hailst.at/2uNHwIN

Quick Hitters

The Dawgs are looking at becoming just the third school in SEC history to win 1,000 Southeastern Conference contests. The only schools to accomplish this feat are Florida and LSU. Mississippi State has 994 SEC wins in program history.
The Diamond Dawgs have been racking up strikeouts this season. Over 41 games, the Dawgs have tallied 432 Ks. The 432 punchouts are the eighth most in the NCAA this season. The staff ranks 10th in the country in strikeouts per nine innings, averaging 11.0.
Since starting SEC play, sophomore Hunter Hines has been crushing the baseball. He is hitting .314 over SEC play. Out of his 22 hits, nine have been home runs and he has 20 RBIs over 18 games. Over the course of the season, Hines is hitting .319 with 18 home runs and 51 RBIs. He has 18 home runs on the season, which is tied for ninth in the nation.
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 a two-home run game against Alabama in the first game of the series.
The Dawgs have hit 71 home runs the 18th best mark in the NCAA. The Dawgs hit at least one home run in each of the last five SEC games, including four homers in game two of the Auburn series. The Dawgs have hit a home run in 32 of 41 games this season, including hitting a homer in 7 of the last 9 games. Eleven different players have hit a homer this season.
The Diamond Dawgs are finding ways to reach base this season, including drawing walks. The Bulldogs have drawn 246 base on balls this season, which is tied for the tenth most in the NCAA. Nine different players have drawn ten or more walks this season. Colton Ledbetter leads the team with 41 walks this season. Luke Hancock follows with 36 walks, while Amani Larry is third on the team with 31. Ledbetter is tied for sixth in the nation for walks.
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. This season, the Dawgs had seven players on Opening Day Rosters.
Mississippi State has the BEST fans in collegiate baseball, which showed during the 2023 season. The Dawgs averaged the most fans on opening weekend, and led the nation with 11,127 per game. For Super Bulldog Weekend, 43,986 fans showed up and out for a three-game set, averaging 14,662 per game. They also set the NCAA record for single game attendance for an on-campus facility at the Dude when 16,423 fans gushed into the stadium when the Diamond Dawgs took on Ole Miss on April 15, 2023.
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.
Sophomore Nate Dohm was named to the NWBCA Stopper of the Year Watch List, and we can see why. He has made 12 appearances out of the bullpen this year and holds an ERA of 2.20. In 28.2 innings pitched, he has 32 strikeouts and five wins, while picking up two saves.

Scouting the Opponent – Tennessee

Tony Vitello is in his sixth season as the head coach of the Volunteers, with a record of 218-91.
Tennessee enters the weekend as the #24 team in the country with an overall record of 27-14, while going 8-10 in conference play
The Vols finished the 2022 season with a record of 57-9, a new program best, before falling in the super-regional round.
Tennessee ranks fourth nationally in home runs with 84.
The Volunteer pitching staff enters the weekend with a 3.26 ERA.
Drew Beam and Chase Dollander lead the Vols in victories (5).
Ole Miss bats .286 as a squad. They are led by Blake Burke, who is batting .327 on the season.
Chase Burns leads the Vols in strikeouts (82).

Series Notes

The Dawgs and the Volunteers meet for the 95^th time on Thursday when they begin the series.
Tennessee swept the series during the 2022 season.
State leads the all-time series 60-34.
The first matchup between these two programs was in 1917.

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: at Tennessee

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Jurrangelo Cijntje

Nate Dohm

Luke Hancock

Ross Highfill

Hunter Hines

KC Hunt

Amani Larry

Colton Ledbetter

Cade Smith

Mississippi State University Athletics

Diamond Dawg Gameday: at Tennessee

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Jurrangelo Cijntje

Nate Dohm

Luke Hancock

Ross Highfill

Hunter Hines

KC Hunt

Amani Larry

Colton Ledbetter

Cade Smith

Related Videos