Diamond Dogs Host Braves Tuesday
The Bulldogs, in the midst of a season-opening 14-game homestand, pounded out 13 hits and got season-first home runs from Ryan Collins, Jarrod Parks and Taylor Stark Sunday afternoon en route to a series-clinching 14-5 win over Belmont. All nine starters in the Bulldog batting order hit safely for State, fifth in the early SEC hitting charts with a .331 team batting average. MSU's seven home runs ranks as the second-most in the league.
MSU has designated sophomore righty Kendall Graveman (0-0, 3.60) for his second start of the season while Alcorn State will open with senior southpaw Brent Blaum (0-0, 9.45). After an 0-5 start, the Braves took two of three games last weekend in Lorman, Miss., against Illinois-Springfield.
Mississippi State leads the series 9-0, including a 27-4 decision last year.
Senior shortstop Jonathan Ogden (.346) enters the week riding a team-leading five-game hitting streak, which includes a trio of home runs, second-most in the SEC two weeks into the season.
The Bulldogs continue their homestand this weekend, hosting Georgia State (7-1) and Iowa (0-3) in a three-day double round-robin baseball event.