Baseball Returns Home Friday Against Auburn
STARKVILLE, Miss. – Following a four-game road swing, the Mississippi State baseball team (18-9, 2-4 SEC) returns home to face SEC West rival Auburn (15-10, 1-5 SEC) this weekend for a three-game series at Dudy Noble Field. The series opener is Friday at 6:30 p.m., followed by game two Saturday at 2 p.m. First pitch for the series finale is Sunday at 1:30 p.m.
VIDEO: John Cohen and Reid Humphreys Preview Auburn Series
The Bulldogs are 101-86-1 all-time against the Tigers, including a 55-29 mark in Starkville. State has won four-straight games in the series and is looking to win five in a row for the first time since 1990-91. Auburn has not won a series at Dudy Noble Field since 2009. John Cohen is 10-8 all-time against the Orange and Blue as MSU’s skipper, including a 6-3 record at home.
Need To Know
- Mississippi State has won four-straight games against Auburn, including a three-game series sweep last spring on the road. The Tigers have not won a series in Starkville since 2009.
- State is looking to win five-straight games against the Tigers for the first time since 1990-91.
- Sophomore slugger Reid Humphreys is riding a career-long eight-game hitting streak.
- Humphreys is 12-for-30 (.400) in his last eight games after going 5-for-37 (.135) in his previous 11 tilts. The Brandon, Miss., native went 3-for-5 in his only career start vs. Auburn last season.
- Sophomore Gavin Collins has started the last three games, hitting a team-high .462 (6-for-13).
- In 12.0 career innings pitched vs. Auburn, senior Ross Mitchell has yet to allow a run.
- Sophomore outfielder Cody Brown has reached base safely in a career-long 16-straight games. During that stretch, he’s hitting .333 with 11 runs, 10 walks and a team-high six doubles.
- Brown was 4-for-10 with two RBIs and two runs in two starts at Auburn last year.
- Mississippi State freshman RHP Jesse McCord and Auburn senior RHP Rocky McCord are brothers.
- Joel Logan, the father of Auburn sophomore catcher Blake Logan, was a kicker for the Mississippi State football team from 1987-90, which was the same time current Bulldog head coach John Cohen was a student-athlete at MSU.
Weather
Friday Forecast: High 57, Low 34 - Mostly Sunny - 0% Chance of Rain
Saturday Forecast: High 52, Low 35 - Mostly Sunny - 0% Chance of Rain
Sunday Forecast: High 69, Low 54 – AM Clouds/PM Sun - 0% Chance of Rain
Live Video and Television
All three games will be available on SEC Network + via the WatchESPN app. SEC Network + replaces HailStateTV as MSU’s online video streaming service.
Watch Friday’s Game | Watch Saturday’s Game | Watch Sunday’s Game
IMPOTANT VIDEO: The SEC Network and SEC Network + are two distinct channels with separate offerings.
Live Audio and Radio
All three games will air live on the Mississippi State Baseball Radio Network. All three games will also be audio streamed live online at HailState.com/Plus (requires subscription).
Probable Starters
Friday – RJr. RHP Preston Brown (3-2, 3.77 ERA) vs. RSo. RHP Cole Lipscomb (3-0, 2.19 ERA)
Saturday – So. RHP Austin Sexton (2-0 ERA, 2.61 ERA) vs. So. RHP Keegan Thompson (4-2, 4.10 ERA)
Sunday – So. LHP Vance Tatum (2-0, 1.99 ERA) vs. Jr. RHP Dalton Rentz (1-0, 3.43 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
Friday
GIVEAWAY: 500 “Hail State” Rally Towels (1B Gate)
FIRST PITCH (2): Haven 12 Student
RECOGNITIONS: 1965 SEC Championship Team and Women’s Basketball Team
“THE DUDES” Sign-Up Table in Concourse (Near 1B Gate)
Saturday
FIRST PITCH (2): Tyler Boutwell (Haven 12) & Randy Edwards
“THE DUDES” Sign-Up Table in Concourse (Near 1B Gate)
Sunday
FIRST PITCH (2): Haven 12 Student & Campbell Dale
GIVEAWAY: 1,000 BWW Trading Cards – Set #2 of 3 (1B Gate)
Kids Day at the Park – Kids Can Run the Bases Post-Game (weather permitting)
“THE DUDES” Sign-Up Table in Concourse (Near 1B Gate)
Fans can also visit HailState.com/memories for incredible fan experiences such as:
Welcome Message on Video Board
Hall of Champions Tour
Pre-Game Mound Photo
125th Season Pennant
Second Base Delivery
Visit the Dugout
125th Season Decal
Rankings
Mississippi State – No. 29 in NCBWA, Receiving Votes in USA Today Coaches’ Poll, Unranked in Baseball America, Collegiate Baseball, D1 Baseball and Perfect Game.
Auburn – Unranked in all polls.
Social Media
For 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.”