Cohen?s Club Welcomes Eastern Illinois To Town Tuesday
STARKVILLE, Miss. – No. 20 Mississippi State (16-6) looks to get back to its winning ways Tuesday with a 6:30 p.m. contest against Eastern Illinois (0-13) at Dudy Noble Field. The Bulldogs are coming off a series loss at home to Alabama, while the Panthers arrive in Starkville following a three-game series sweep at Memphis.
The two teams met twice last year at The Dude (March 1-2), with MSU winning both games (4-3, 9-0). State hit .343 against the Panthers, highlighted by current senior Jake Vickerson going 5 for 9 (.556) with three runs, two RBIs, a pair of stolen bases and a double. Butch Thompson’s pitching staff struck out 19 and walked four in the two games won by current sophomore righty Dakota Hudson (5.2 IP, 0 R, 5 K) and current Yankees prospect Jacob Lindgren (1.2 IP, 0 R, 3 K).
Need To Know
- Offensively, State leads the nation with a .429 on-base percentage, while ranking second in walks (137), fifth in hit by pitches (36), 13th in runs and 21st in hits (205).
- Defensively, John Cohen’s ballclub is second nationally with 26 double plays and leads the country with 227 since the beginning of 2012.
- Behind the plate, State is second in the country behind Eastern Michigan with 15 base runners thrown out attempting to steal.
- Mississippi State has struck out 1,829 batters since the beginning of 2012, the second-highest total in the country behind Louisville.
- While early, Jacob Robson is off to an All-America type season, ranking third nationally in on-base percentage (.570), fifth in walks (21), 12th in stolen bases (12) and 14th in runs scored (23).
- Mississippi State currently has four players who have reached base safely in 11-straight games or longer: first baseman Wes Rea (13), shortstop Seth Heck (11), outfielder Cody Brown (11) and third baseman Matt Spruill (11).
- Rea has reached base safely in all 16 of his starts this season.
- Heck has reached base safely in 51 of his last 52 games, and after recording three games of three-plus hits last year, has matched the feat in just 22 games in 2015.
- In the last 10 games, Brown is hitting .370 with a team-high seven runs and four doubles.
- Laster is looking for his third-consecutive quality start.
- In four career regular-season midweek starts, Laster owns a 1.95 ERA in 27 2/3 innings pitched.
Rankings
Mississippi State – No. 20 in USA Today Coaches’ Poll and Baseball America, No. 22 in NCBWA, No. 25 in Perfect Game and unranked in Collegiate Baseball and D1 Baseball Kentucky – Unranked
Tuesday’s Forecast (March 17) – High 80, Low 53 – Mostly Sunny (0%)
Live Video and Television
Tuesday’s game will be available on SEC Network + via the WatchESPN app. SEC Network + replaces HailStateTV as MSU’s online video streaming service.
IMPOTANT VIDEO: The SEC Network and SEC Network + are two distinct channels with separate offerings.
Live Audio and Radio
Tuesday’s game will be available locally on WKBB 100.9 FM. The contest will also be audio streamed live online at HailState.com/Plus (requires subscription).
Probable Starters
Tue. - Mississippi State LHP Lucas Laster (2-0, 2.49 ERA) vs. EIU RHP Luke Dietz (2.25 ERA)
Tickets
Tickets are still available and can be purchased at HailState.com/tickets or at the MSU ticket office behind home plate, which opens two hours before first pitch every game.
Promotions
In honor of St. Patrick’s Day, the first 500 fans at the 1B gate will receive MSU color-changing cups. For all midweek games this season, $2 hot dogs will be available at concessions. Fans can also visit HailState.com/memories for incredible fan experiences.
Social MediaFor more information on head coach John Cohen’s club, follow the team on Twitter, like them on Facebook and join them on Instagram by searching for “HailStateBB.” You can also find all-access coverage of the program on SnapChat by searching for “HailStateSnap.”