Diamond Dogs Take On Rebels In Governor's Cup
STARKVILLE, Miss. - Mississippi State embarks on a six-game road run Tuesday in Pearl, Miss., when the Bulldogs (14-21) take on instate SEC rival Mississippi (24-12) in the second annual Governor’s Cup game. The Bulldogs have won all four of their previous games at Trustmark Park, including a 14-9 decision over the Rebels in the inaugural Governor’s Cup event held last year.
Tuesday’s game will be televised regionally by Comcast Sports, with Jim Ellis and Richard Cross describing the action. The radio broadcast of the game can be heard on the statewide MSU Baseball Radio Network and on the internet (www.MStateAthletics.com) to subscribers of MSU’s premium web site extension, “Maroon to the Max”.
Sophomore left-hander Tyler Whitney (0-0, 6.00) is slated to draw his third start and make his eighth overall mound appearance for State. The Lakeland, Tenn., product led a six-pitcher effort and earned the win in last year’s 14-9 MSU win in the Governor’s Cup. UM is expected to start junior lefty Brett Bukvich (1-1, 8.10).
State will have to rework its lineup in the infield this week after sophomore third baseman Connor Powers sustained a strained hamstring in Sunday’s series finale against Vanderbilt. In that game, sophomore Russ Sneed, a starter in all 35 games at shortstop, replaced Powers, also a 35-game starter, at third base while freshman Ryan Powers replaced Sneed at shortstop. MSU’s injured third baseman could be sidelined from three to six weeks.
Freshman catcher Cody Freeman, who has missed the last nine games with a knee injury, could return for limited duty this week. A 17-game starter behind the dish, Freeman was hitting a team-best .397 before injuring his knee in a March 30 game against Georgia
Mississippi State resumes SEC competition on the road this weekend with a three-game series at Alabama (Apr. 18-20) then closes out the road swing with a two-game midweek series at Southern Miss (Apr. 22-23).