Diamond Dawgs at #25 Hogs In Fayetteville This Weekend
VIDEO: Head Coach John Cohen Previews the Arkansas Series
State is 48-42 all-time against Arkansas, including a 16-17 mark in Fayetteville. Bulldog skipper John Cohen is 7-13 overall against the Razorbacks, including a 2-1 series win last spring in Starkville (0-4, 5-1, 5-1).
Need To Know
- In 17 career innings pitched against Arkansas, senior southpaw Ross Mitchell is 1-0 with a 0.53 ERA, holding Hog hitters to a .196 average.
- Senior first baseman Wes Rea is hitting .324 in 10 career games against Arkansas with eight RBIs, seven runs, seven walks and two home runs.
- Despite hitting .213 (13-for-61) in 21 non-conference games, junior second baseman John Holland is raking at a .317 clip (19-for-60) in 17 SEC games.
- Redshirt freshman designated hitter Brent Rooker is 4-for-8 his last three games after being mired in a 2-for-29 slump Feb. 22-April 7.
- In his last eight starts, senior right fielder Jake Vickerson is 13-for-30 (.433) with 10 runs and four RBIs.
- Mississippi State’s pitching staff leads the NCAA with 482 groundouts. As a result, MSU is third in the country with 47 double plays and first in the NCAA since 2012 with 248 twin killings.
- In SEC games only, the Maroon and White rank second in the league offensively behind No. 1 LSU in fewest strikeouts (92).
- State is 17-1 when out-hitting its opponent, but 5-18 when being out-hit or having equal hits.
LIVE STATS: Friday – Saturday – Sunday
Weather
Friday Forecast: High 70, Low 60 – Thunderstorms - 80% Chance of Rain
Saturday Forecast: High 80, Low 52 – Sunny - 10% Chance of Rain
Sunday Forecast: High 77, Low 52 – Sunny - 10% 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 – Sr. LHP Lucas Laster (4-3, 3.11 ERA) vs. Jr. RHP Trey Killian (1-3, 5.87 ERA)
Saturday – RJr. RHP Preston Brown (5-4, 3.71 ERA) vs. So. RHP Dominic Taccolini (5-3, 4.97 ERA)
Sunday – TBA vs. Fr. RHP Keaton McKinney (3-1, 3.93 ERA)
Rankings
Mississippi State – Not Ranked
Arkansas – 25th in Baseball America and D1 Baseball, 30th in Collegiate Baseball, Receiving Votes in NCBWA and USA Today Coaches’ Poll
Social Media
For more information on 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.”