State Wraps Up Homestand Against Eastern Illinois
The game matches a pair of sophomore right-handers. Kendall Graveman (1-0, 2.25 ERA) will make his third start of the campaign for the Bulldogs, while Eastern Illinois will counter with Troy Barton (0-0, 1.35 ERA), set to make his first start and his sixth mound appearance overall this spring.
The Bulldogs claimed their second weekend series of the campaign last weekend, taking two games in a three-game set against Sacred Heart. The EIU Panthers dropped all three games of a weekend series at Alabama.
MSU and Eastern Illinois have met twice previously, with State claiming 3-1 and 16-6 wins at Dudy Noble Field in 1995.
Senior third baseman Jarrod Parks (.396) opens the week with a team-leading 21 hits, 16 RBI and hits in 13 of State's 16 games. The Madison, Miss., product is one of four Diamond Dogs to start all 16 games. Parks and freshman outfielder/pitcher C.T. Bradford (.311) share the team lead with seven multiple-hit and four multiple-RBI games. Senior infielder Nick Vickerson (.263) leads the team and ranks second in the Southeastern Conference in both runs scored (23) and stolen bases (13). He also paces the club with 13 walks.
Junior lefty Nick Routt is expected to make his injury and weather-delayed seasonal debut Wednesday night in Nashville in State's matchup with Lipscomb. Routt, a 2009 SEC All-Freshman Team pick, has not toed the rubber for the Bulldogs since a March 21 game at Florida last season. His scheduled March 8 debut against Mississippi Valley State last week was postponed by rain.
Following Tuesday night's game, the Bulldogs head to Nashville, Tenn., for four games. State tangles with the Lipscomb University Bisons(7-9) Wednesday at 6 p.m. and then launches its 30-game Southeastern Conference schedule with a three-game weekend series against second-ranked Vanderbilt (16-1). Game times at Vandy's Hawkins Field are set for 6 p.m. Friday, 2 p.m. Saturday and 1 p.m. Sunday.
State opens its 15-game, five-weekend conference home schedule against SEC Western Division rival Auburn March 25-27.