Cohen's Club Hosts No. 6 Gators As Part Of #SBW15
STARKVILLE, Miss. – Looking to score its second-consecutive series win against a top-15 opponent at home, the Mississippi State baseball team (22-16, 6-9 SEC) squares off against No. 6 Florida (28-10, 9-6 SEC) as part of Super Bulldog Weekend (#SBW15). The Southeastern Conference series opener at Dudy Noble Field is Friday at 6:30 p.m., followed by 2 p.m. first pitches on Saturday and Sunday.
The Bulldogs are 43-58 all-time against the Gators, with a 22-23 record in Starkville. Florida has won two straight games against MSU, including knocking the Maroon and White out of the 2014 SEC Tournament. John Cohen is 5-12 all-time against UF as MSU’s skipper, including a 3-3 mark at home.
Need To Know
- Friday night starter Lucas Laster has recorded six straight quality starts, the longest such streak by a MSU pitcher since April 19-May 23, 2012, when 2012 SEC Pitcher of the Year and eventual San Francisco Giants first-round pick Chris Stratton accomplished the same feat.
- Mississippi State’s pitching staff leads the NCAA with 441 groundouts. As a result, MSU is fourth in the country with 43 double plays and first in the NCAA since 2012 with 244 twin killings.
- Despite hitting .213 (13-for-61) in 21 non-conference games, redshirt junior second baseman John Holland is raking at a .340 clip (17-for-50) in 14 SEC games.
- In five starts against SEC Friday night aces, sophomore slugger Reid Humphreys is hitting a team-high .375 (6-for-16).
- In six starts at home, sophomore Austin Sexton is 3-1 with a 2.38 ERA, a 36-9 strikeout-to-walk ratio and a .197 opponent batting average. In two starts on the road, the righty is 0-2 with a 6.75 ERA, a 6-7 K/BB ratio and a .326 opponent batting average.
- Redshirt sophomore left fielder Cody Brown is riding a career-long eight-game hitting streak. In MSU’s last 10 games, Brown leads the team in average (.390), hits (16) and runs scored (9).
- State is 17-1 when out-hitting its opponent, but 5-15 when being out-hit or having equal hits.
- The Bulldogs are 21-3 this spring when leading after six innings, but just 1-13 when trailing or tied after six stanzas.
Official Game-Time Forecasts From SEC Office
Friday – 73-68 degrees, 0% chance of rain, mostly cloudy, wind 0-5 mph
Saturday – 79-81 degrees, 10% chance of rain (heavy rain arrives shortly after the end of the game), mostly cloudy, wind 5-10 mph
Sunday – 79-75 degrees, 20% chance of rain (isolated showers in the region, best chance of rain toward the end of the game), mostly cloudy, wind 5-10 mph
Live Video and Television
Friday’s game will be available on SEC Network + via the WatchESPN app. SEC Network + replaces HailStateTV as MSU’s online video streaming service. Saturday’s game will air nationally on the SEC Network as well as online via the WatchESPN app. Sunday’s game will air in more than 90 million homes on ESPNU in addition to online via the WatchESPN app.
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 – MSU LHP Lucas Laster (4-2, 2.52) vs. UF RHP Logan Shore (5-2, 2.16 ERA)
Saturday – MSU RHP Austin Sexton (3-3, 3.52 ERA) vs. UF RHP Dane Dunning (4-1, 3.19 ERA)
Sunday – MSU RHP Preston Brown (5-3, 3.81 ERA) vs. UF 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
Friday – FREE rally towels for the first 1,000 fans; Fireworks post-game to kickoff SBW.
Saturday – “125 Seasons” commemorative posters for the first 5,000 fans.
Sunday – Final set of trading cards given away; “Kids’ Day at the Park”: kids 12 and under get to run the bases post-game.
Fans can also visit HailState.com/memories for incredible fan experiences such as:
- $25 Commemorative Basket Delivered by Diamond Girl (125th season lapel pin, 125th season decal, 125th season pennant, MSU baseball cup, full set of MSU trading cards, 125th season poster autographed by John Cohen)
- Lead the seventh inning stretch
- Deliver the rosin bag to the mound
- Pregame photo on the field
- Have your child say “PLAY BALL!”
- Hall of Champions Tour
- Meet and Greet with AD Scott Stricklin
Rankings
Mississippi State – Receiving Votes in NCBWA
Florida – 6th in NCBWA and D1 Baseball, 7th in Perfect Game and USA Today Coaches, 8th in Baseball America, 12th in Collegiate Baseball
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.”