Diamond Dawgs Head To Texas To Face Top-Ranked Aggies
STARKVILLE, Miss. – Looking to take down the nation’s top-ranked team, the Mississippi State baseball team (21-14, 5-7 SEC) travels to Texas A&M (31-2, 9-2 SEC) this weekend for a three-game Southeastern Conference battle at Olsen Field at Blue Bell Park. The series begins Friday at 6:35 p.m. CT, with game two taking place Saturday at 2:05 p.m. First pitch of Sunday’s series finale is slated for 1:05 p.m.
VIDEO: Head Coach John Cohen Previews Texas A&M Series
State is 12-6 all-time against Texas A&M, including a 7-1 mark in College Station. Bulldog skipper John Cohen is 5-2 overall against the Aggies, including a three-game series sweep on the road in 2013.
Need To Know
- In seven career games vs. Texas A&M, senior first baseman Wes Rea is 13-for-30 (.433) with six RBIs, six runs and four extra base hits (3 doubles, 1 home run).
- Last season against the Aggies, shortstop Seth Heck went 7-for-13 (.538).
- The Bulldogs, who rank No. 2 nationally in walks, are one of two teams in the country with more walks than strikeouts. MSU has 196 base on balls and 191 strikeouts, while Florida Atlantic has walked 180 times and struck out on 179 occasions.
- Second baseman John Holland enters the weekend having reached base safely in a career-long nine straight games.
- State is 17-0 when out-hitting its opponent, but 4-14 when being out-hit or having equal hits.
- The Bulldogs are 20-2 this spring when leading after seven innings, but just 1-12 when trailing or tied after seven stanzas.
- MSU has not defeated a No. 1 ranked team (0 for last 4) since June 11, 2011, when the Maroon and White beat Florida on a walkoff home run in game two of the Gainesville Super Regional.
Weather
Friday Forecast: High 73, Low 65 - Cloudy - 20% Chance of Rain
Saturday Forecast: High 77, Low 68 – Scattered Thunderstorms - 60% Chance of Rain
Sunday Forecast: High 79, Low 70 - Thunderstorms - 90% 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 (4-1, 2.53 ERA) vs. Jr. RHP Grayson Long (6-0, 2.45 ERA)
Saturday – RJr. RHP Preston Brown (4-3, 4.18 ERA) vs. Jr. RHP Kyle Simonds (2-0, 0.00 ERA)
Sunday – So. LHP Vance Tatum (3-1, 3.83 ERA) vs. Jr. LHP Matt Kent (6-0, 3.14 ERA)
Rankings
Mississippi State – Receiving Votes in NCBWA Division I Poll and USA Today Coaches Poll
Texas A&M – 1st in USA Today Coaches Poll and Collegiate Baseball, 2nd in Baseball America, D1 Baseball and NCBWA and 4th in Perfect Game
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.”