Cohen's Club Looks To Go 2-0 In NCAA Lafayette Regional
STARKVILLE, Miss. – After a thrilling come-from-behind victory against No. 30 San Diego State Friday, the 17th-ranked Mississippi State baseball team (38-22) will play Jackson State (32-23) Saturday at 6 p.m. in the fourth game of the 2014 NCAA Lafayette Regional. The in-state battle will be televised live on ESPN3 from M.L. Tigue Moore Field in Lafayette, La. MSU will be the visitor and occupy the first base dugout.
Jackson State qualified by winning the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) Tournament May 18 in New Orleans. The Tigers advanced to the winners bracket of the Lafayete regional after shutting out No. 1 Louisiana-Lafayette Friday, 1-0. Mississippi State is 49-8 all-time against JSU, with the last meeting coming in 2010.
The Maroon and White are playing in their 34th NCAA Tournament, owning a 93-74 record all-time in the Big Dance. MSU holds a 69-39 mark in 28 NCAA Regionals. Last season, Cohen's club made it to the NCAA College World Series Championship Series, finishing as a finalist in the 64-team tournament.
Should the Bulldogs walk away winners in the Lafayette regional, it would be MSU's 12th NCAA Regional championship. Starkville's Team would then advance to its sixth NCAA Super Regional to face the winner of the NCAA Oxford Regional, which features host Ole Miss, Washington, Georgia Tech and Jacksonville State. For all-access coverage of the nationally-ranked Bulldogs in Lafayette, follow the team on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram at HailStateBB.
VIDEO: Friday’s Mississippi State Postgame Press Conference
BLOG: Bob Carskadon Recaps Friday’s Thriller In A Way Only He Can
Live Video and Television
Saturday’s game will be broadcast on ESPN3.
Live Stats
Live Audio and Radio
The tourney will be available on the Mississippi State Baseball Radio Network and at HailStateTV.com.
Probable Starters
TBA vs. Jackson State Sr. RHP Desmond Russell (9-4, 3.50 ERA)
Social Media
Fans can follow the tournament on social media by searching for “HailStateBB” on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. All-Access coverage of the program can also be found on FanCred.
Rankings
Mississippi State – 17th in Baseball America, 21st in Collegiate Baseball, Perfect Game and USA Today Coaches’ Poll and 22nd in NCBWA
Jackson State – Unranked
Latest NCAA RPI Rankings
Mississippi State – 32
Jackson State – 271
NCAA Regional Ticket Info
Based on availability, the host will sell $10 general admission tickets for Saturday’s MSU-JSU game. Tournament officials will make the determination on how many tickets can be sold 10 minutes before first pitch of each game in the regional
NCAA Regional Schedule
Lafayette, La.
M.L. "Tigue" Moore Field
All times Central and subject to change
Friday, May 30
Game 1 - #2 seed Mississippi State 5, #3 seed San Diego State 2
Game 2 - #4 seed Jackson State 1, #1 seed Louisiana 0
Saturday, May 31
Game 3 - 1 p.m. - #3 seed San Diego State vs. #1 seed Louisiana (Elimination Game)
Game 4 - 6 p.m. - #4 seed Jackson State vs. #2 seed Mississippi State
Sunday, June 1
Game 5 – 1 p.m. - Game 3 Winner vs. Game 4 Loser
Game 6 – 6 p.m. - Game 4 Winner vs. Game 5 Winner
Monday, June 2
Game 7 – 6 p.m. - Game 6 Winner vs. Game 6 Loser (if necessary)