Diamond Dogs Host Belmont In Weekend Series
Eupora, Miss., junior right-hander Devin Jones (1-0, 0.00) is slated to open on the mound opposite Bruin sophomore southpaw Chase Brookshire (0-0, 9.00). Sophomore righty Chris Stratton (1-0, 0.00) will get the ball for State in Saturday's 2 p.m. game while the MSU Sunday starter has not be determined.
The Bulldogs open the series hitting at a healthy .347 clip, led by seniors Cody Freeman (.583) and Jarrod Parks (.556) and the current SEC Freshman of the Week, Daryl Norris (.500). Parks leads the SEC in hits (10), a team-leading four for extra-bases and has hit safely in all five games. Norris has bolted to the early SEC RBI lead with nine runs batted in. Senior infielder Nick Vickerson (.300) holds the early league lead with nine runs scored.
Belmont, one of five first-time opponents for MSU, out-hit cross-town rival Vanderbilt 6-5 but dropped a 6-2 decision to the Commodores Wednesday night in Nashville. The Bulldogs face two other Nashville teams in the coming weeks, taking on Lipscomb and SEC East rival Vanderbilt in a four-game, five-day road trip to Music City March 16-20.
The Belmont series is part of a season-opening 14-game homestand for the Diamond Dogs, who play 18 of their first 19 contests at Dudy Noble Field.