Diamond Dogs Host Samford To Begin 10-Game Homestand
The Bulldogs, who posted a 4-3 record during their just-completed 11-day road trip to Texas and Florida, will send sophomore righty Jared Koon (0-0, 14.54) to the hill for his second start of the campaign.Samford is expected to counter with sophomore right-hander David Knapp (1-0, 2.41).
Samford, coached by former Auburn standout Casey Dunn, has won sevon of its last 10 games, including a sweep of Memphis and last Wednesday's 4-3 home win over instate rival Alabama.
Wednesday's game, originally scheduled for Tuesday night but moved a day accommodate Tuesday's MasterCard NIT basketball game at Humphrey Coliseum, begins a season-longest 10-game homestand for the Bulldogs.State takes on its first ranked opponent and its first conference home opponent of the year, No. 3 South Carolina (17-3, 2-1 SEC), in this weekend's series at Dudy Noble Field. All three games will be televised regionally by SportSouth, with game time for Saturday's game shifted to 3 p.m. for television.
Mississippi State opens the week sporting Southeastern Conference-leading .378 team batting average, led by this week's SEC Player of the Week Edward Easley. The junior from Olive Branch, Miss., a candidate for the 2007 Johnny Bench Award, leads the league with a .516 clip and .859 slugging percentage and paces the Bulldogs with 24 runs scored, 33 hits, six home runs and 25 RBI. Easley and teammates Brian LaNinfa (.353), Mitch Moreland (.400) and Jeffrey Rea (.397) have each hit safely in 15 of MSU's first 16 games. Bulldog freshman shortstop Brandon Turner (.413) opens the week riding a 10-game hitting streak.