Diamond Dawg Gameday: host Arkansas

STARKVILLE – The Mississippi State Bulldogs return to Dudy Noble Field as the Arkansas Razorbacks make the trip south for a three-game series. First pitch for Friday is set for 6 p.m., continuing Saturday at 6 p.m., and concluding Sunday at 1 p.m.

Friday and Sunday's game will be broadcast on SECN+, while Saturday's game will be on ESPN2. 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
Friday, May 5 (6 p.m. CT)
Probable Starters
MSU: Cade Smith (1-1), RHP, Jr.
ARK: Hagen Smith (6-1), LHP, So.

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Gameday Info
Saturday, May 6 (6 p.m. CT)
Probable Starters
MSU: TBA
ARK: TBA

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Gameday Info
Sunday, May 7 (1 p.m. CT)
Probable Starters
MSU: TBA
ARK: TBA

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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 44 games, the Dawgs have tallied 455 Ks. The 455 punchouts are the 13^th most in the NCAA this season. The staff ranks 10th in the country in strikeouts per nine innings, averaging 10.9.
Over the course of the season, Hunter Hines is hitting .322 with 21 home runs and 55 RBIs. His 21 home runs on the season ties Hines for third in the nation. Hines now ranks him seventh in single-season home runs, passing Rafael Palmeiro's junior year total (20). He is the first Dawg to hit 20 or more home runs in a season since Brent Rooker in 2017.
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 78 home runs, the 20^th best mark in the NCAA. The Dawgs hit at least one home run in 10 of the last 12 SEC games. The Dawgs have hit a home run in 35 of 44 games this season.
APRIL BOMBS: The Bulldogs finished with home runs in 13 of the 16 games played in the month of April, including two four-homer games against Alabama and Auburn.
The Diamond Dawgs are finding ways to reach base this season, including drawing walks. The Bulldogs have drawn 255 base on balls this season, which is sixteenth most in the NCAA. Nine different players have drawn ten or more walks this season. Colton Ledbetter leads the team with 42 walks this season. Luke Hancock follows with 37 walks, while Amani Larry is third on the team with 31.
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 – Arkansas

Dave Van Horn is in his 21^st season as the head coach of the Razorbacks, holds a 829-435 record at Arkansas and a mark of 1,200-603 mark for his 30 year career.
Arkansas enters the weekend as the #6 team in the country with an overall record of 33-12, while going 14-7 in conference play
The Razorbacks finished the 2022 season with a record of 46-21, ending their season in Omaha.
Arkansas ranks sixth nationally and first in the SEC in double plays turned with 43 on the season.
The Razorback pitching staff enters the weekend with a 5.09 ERA.
Hagen Smith, Dylan Carter, Will McEntire and Hunter Hollan all have six victories for Arkansas.
The Razorbacks are hitting .283 as a squad. They are led by Jace Bohrofen, who is batting .376 on the season.
Hagen Smith leads the Razorbacks in strikeouts (71). This is the 6^th most in the SEC.

Series Notes

The Dawgs and the Razorbacks meet for the 112^th time on Friday when they begin the series.
Arkansas took two-of-three in the 2022 series.
State leads the all-time series 57-54.
The first matchup between these two programs was in 1958.

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: host Arkansas

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Nate Dohm

Luke Hancock

Ross Highfill

Hunter Hines

KC Hunt

Amani Larry

Colton Ledbetter

Cade Smith

Mississippi State University Athletics

Diamond Dawg Gameday: host Arkansas

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Nate Dohm

Luke Hancock

Ross Highfill

Hunter Hines

KC Hunt

Amani Larry

Colton Ledbetter

Cade Smith

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