Tuesday?s Game Time Moved Up, WKU Series Info
STARKVILLE, Miss. – Ranked No. 13 in the country with a 14-3 record, Mississippi State baseball welcomes Western Kentucky (6-7) to town for a two-game series beginning Tuesday at Dudy Noble Field. The series opener has been moved up to 4 p.m. (6:30 p.m.) Tuesday, while the first pitch for the series finale Wednesday is scheduled for 5 p.m.
Rankings
Mississippi State – No. 13 in USA Today Coaches’ Poll, No. 15 in Baseball America and NCBWA, No. 16 in Collegiate Baseball, and No. 22 in D1 Baseball and Perfect Game.
Western Kentucky – Unranked
Tuesday’s Forecast (March 10) – High 71, Low 59 – Thunderstorms (90%)
Wednesday’s Forecast (March 11) – High 68, Low 58 – Rain (100%)
Live Video and Television
Both games will be available on SEC Network + via the WatchESPN app. SEC Network + replaces HailStateTV as MSU’s online video streaming service.
Watch Tuesday’s Game | Watch Wednesday’s Game
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. Wednesday’s game will be available locally on WMXU 106.1. 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, 2.45 ERA) vs. WKU TBA
Wed. - Mississippi State TBA vs. WKU TBA
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
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.
Need To Know
- Offensively, State still leads the SEC in runs (128), on-base percentage (.432), walks (105) and hit by pitch (28).
- Defensively, John Cohen’s ballclub is tied for first in strikeouts with 154 and paces the conference with 15 base runners thrown out attempting to steal.
- The 15 thrown out ranks second nationally behind Eastern Michigan.
- This past Sunday against San Diego, MSU turned five double plays, tying the school record set in 1983 against Auburn.
- Butch Thompson’s pitching staff has now turned a nation-leading 220 double plays since the beginning of the 2012 season.
- Sunday’s game broke a nine-game streak of Thompson’s staff allowing three runs or less, the longest at MSU since the 1985 College World Series squad also did it in nine-consecutive contests.
- Mississippi State has struck out 1,791 batters since the beginning of 2012, the second-highest total in the country behind Louisville (1,828).
- Individually, Jacob Robson ranks first in the league in runs (20), second in stolen bases (10), fourth in walks (15) and fifth in OBP (.544).
- Shortstop Seth Heck has reached base safely in 46 of his last 47 games, and after recording three games of three-plus hits in 57 games played last year, has matched the feat in just 17 games in 2015.
- Outfielder Cody Brown hit .571 in four games this past week, while third baseman Matt Spruill raked at a .500 clip.
- Spuill enters Tuesday's game with a season-best seven-game hit streak.
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.”