Diamond Dawg Gameday: hosts Texas A&M

STARKVILLE – The Mississippi State Bulldogs return to Dudy Noble Field to close out the 2023 season against Texas A&M in a three-game SEC series. The series opener is slated for a 6 p.m. first pitch on Thursday.

The three-game series will be broadcasted on SECN+. The SEC 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, May 18 (6 p.m.)
Probable Starters
MSU: Colby Holcombe, 2-2, RHP, So.
TAMU: Nathan Dettmer, 1-3, RHP, Jr.

LIVE VIDEO: hailst.at/3BBpbBh
LIVE AUDIO: hailst.at/audio
LIVE STATS: hailst.at/StatBroadcast

Gameday Info
Friday, May 19 (6 p.m. CT)
Probable Starters
MSU: TBA
TAMU: TBA

LIVE VIDEO: hailst.at/3OjcZws
LIVE AUDIO: hailst.at/audio
LIVE STATS: hailst.at/StatBroadcast

Gameday Info
Sunday, May 20 (2 p.m. CT)
Probable Starters
MSU: TBA
TAMU: TBA

LIVE VIDEO: hailst.at/3WlqAp5
LIVE AUDIO: hailst.at/audio
LIVE STATS: hailst.at/StatBroadcast

Quick Hitters

The Diamond Dawgs have been racking up strikeouts this season. Over 50 games, the Dawgs have tallied 499 Ks. The 499 punchouts are the 19th most in the NCAA this season. The staff ranks 14th in the country in strikeouts per nine innings, averaging 10.5.
Throughout the season, Hunter Hines is hitting .301 with 22 home runs and 60 RBIs. His 22 home runs on the season ties Hines for third in the nation. Hines now ranks sixth in Bulldog history with single-season home runs, tying Tommy Raffo. He will tie Brent Rooker for fifth in a single season with one homer.
The Dawgs have hit 87 home runs, the 26th-best mark in the NCAA. They have hit at least one home run in 15 of the last 18 SEC games. The Dawgs have hit a home run in 40 of 50 games this season.
The Diamond Dawgs are finding ways to reach base this season, including drawing walks. The Bulldogs have drawn 284 base on balls this season, the 26th most in the NCAA. Eleven different players have drawn ten or more walks this season. Colton Ledbetter leads the team with 45 walks this season. Luke Hancock follows with 41 walks, while Amani Larry is third on the team with 34.
APRIL BOMBS: The Bulldogs finished with home runs in 13 of the 16 games played in April, including two four-homer games against Alabama and Auburn.
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.
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.
JP France got the call to the majors. He was the 67th Diamond Dawg to get the call to MLB. He debuted Saturday night when he started for the Houston Astros. He went five scoreless innings, allowing only three hits and striking out five.
Mississippi State has the BEST fans in collegiate baseball, which showed during the 2023 season. The Dawgs averaged the most fans on opening weekend, leading 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.

Scouting the Opponent – Texas A&M

Jim Schlossnagle is in his 2nd season as the head coach of the Aggies. He holds a 74-42 record at Texas A&M and a career mark of 885-435 for his 22-year career.
Texas A&M enters the weekend with an overall record of 30-22 while going 12-15 in conference play.
Jack Moss leads the team at the plate as he is hitting .345 this season with four home runs and 33 RBIs. He is one of two Aggies hitting over .300 this season. His teammate Hunter Haas is hitting .340.
Jace LaViolette leads the team with homers with 15 and RBIs with 50.
As a team, the Aggies are hitting .271 with 68 home runs on the season.
The Texas A&M pitching staff holds a team ERA of 5.67 on the season. Evan Aschenbeck leads the way with a 3.38 ERA. ASchenbeck has made 20 appearances this season, all out of the pen.
Nathan Dettmer will start Thursday night for the Aggies and holds a 6.32 ERA in 57 innings. He is 1-3 on the season.

Series Notes

The Dawgs and the Aggies meet for the 40^th time when the series opens on Thursday at Dudy Noble Field.
Last season, the Aggies swept the Dawgs in College Station.
The last time Texas A&M came to Starkville was 2021 and Mississippi State earned a three-game sweep.
State leads the all-time series 21-18.
The first matchup between these two programs was in 1907.

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: hosts Texas A&M

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Luke Hancock

Ross Highfill

Hunter Hines

Colby Holcombe

KC Hunt

Amani Larry

Colton Ledbetter

Mississippi State University Athletics

Diamond Dawg Gameday: hosts Texas A&M

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Luke Hancock

Ross Highfill

Hunter Hines

Colby Holcombe

KC Hunt

Amani Larry

Colton Ledbetter

Related Videos