Diamond Dawgs Open Homestand Tuesday Against Troy
STARKVILLE, Miss. – With the regular season nearing a close, Mississippi State will open a four-game homestand to close out the regular season, starting Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. CT vs. Troy at Dudy Noble Field.
After 13-straight games against Southeastern Conference opponents, the No. 8 Diamond Dawgs (33-19) will play their final non-conference game of the regular season against a Troy (30-21) team that has won five-straight games.
MSU has won all three games in the short series history between the two sides, with a 2-0 advantage in games played in Starkville. Tuesday’s meeting will be the first meeting between the Bulldogs and Trojans since March 4, 2007 when State won 12-4. The two sides last met last season on May 11 at Troy, with the Diamond Dawgs having won 7-3 behind multi-hit games from Brent Rooker and Ryan Gridley.
For all midweek games this season, general admission tickets will be $2. Hot dogs will also be available for $2 at concessions. Fans can also visit HailState.com/memories for unique fan experiences.
Game Notes | Live Stats | Tickets
NEED TO KNOW
·21 of MSU’s 33 wins this season have come in comeback fashion, with 12 of those having come in Southeastern Conference play.
·State is now 26-2 this season when leading after six innings, 21-8 when hitting a home run, 30-5 when holding opponents to four or fewer runs and 29-6 when outhitting opponents.
·The Bulldogs are 8-0 in their last eight games decided by one run and 11-5 in one-run games on the year.
·Since March 13, 2016, the Diamond Dawgs are 38-18 in SEC regular season play. State has also won 15 of its last 19 SEC regular season series dating back to 2016.
·MSU has won 15 SEC series over the last two seasons (six in 2017 and nine in 2016), the most SEC series wins by a Bulldog team in consecutive seasons since 1988-89 (15).
·Andy Cannizaro is just the second MSU coach to achieve 30 or more victories in his very first season at the helm. (Pat McMahon won 42 games in 1998)
·In Year One of the Andy Cannizaro Era, the Diamond Dawg offense is putting up numbers that are far ahead of the 2016 offense. Last season, State hit 47 home runs and recorded 51 steals over the course of the 63-game season. Through 54 games this season, MSU has hit 47 home runs and stolen 65 bases.
·Three-time SEC Player of the Week Brent Rooker leads the SEC in seven offensive categories – batting average (.400), slugging (.879), on-base percentage (.508), RBIs (68), doubles (25), home runs (20) and total bases (167).
·Spencer Price stands atop the SEC for saves with 14.
·Elijah MacNamee (12), Hunter Stovall (12) and Josh Lovelady (10) are all in the midst of career-best reached base streaks.
·With a three-run homer on Friday, Rooker became the Diamond Dawg to reach 20+ home runs, 20+ doubles, 65+ RBIs and the first SEC hitter since Georgia's Gordon Beckham in 2008.
·With 25 doubles on the year, Rooker ranks fourth in the MSU single season record books with the most doubles by a Bulldog since 2016 Gold Glove first baseman Mitch Moreland hit 26 in 2007. (Paul Young’s 27 doubles in 1989 is the record)
·Rooker’s 20 homers is the most by an MSU batter since Tommy Raffo hit 22 in 1989. Rooker is tied for sixth in the MSU record books for home runs in a single season with 20.
·Freshman Riley Self is 5-0 on the year, the most victories by an MSU freshman since Evan Mitchell won six contests in 2011.
·State has received five wins on the mound from three of its position players in OF Brant Blaylock (1-0), 1B Cole Gordon (2-0) and OF Jake Mangum (2-1).
·With home runs by Rooker and Elijah MacNamee on Friday, MSU now has 47 homers as a team this season, tying last season's total. 47 home runs in both 2016 & 2017 respectively is the most since 2010, when MSU hit 68 as a team.
·Hunter Vansau tied a career high with three hits on Sunday at Georgia.
PITCHING MATCHUP
MSU RHP Jacob Billingsley (1-2, 5.09 ERA) vs. Troy LHP Max Newton (2-0, 4.29 ERA)
WEATHER
Tuesday – High 90, Low 62 – Sunny – 10% Chance of Rain
LIVE VIDEO & TELEVISION
Tuesday’s game will be streamed live on SEC Network + via the WatchESPN app and WatchESPN.com.
Watch Tuesday’s Game
LIVE AUDIO & RADIO
Tuesday’s tilt will air live on the Mississippi State Baseball Radio Network. The game can also be audio streamed live online at HailState.com/Plus (requires subscription), as well as on TuneIn Radio.
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 prior to first pitch of every game.
GAME MANAGEMENT POLICY CHANGES
Ice Chest / Cooler check at all DNF gates
In adherence to Southeastern Conference and MSU Game Management Policy, all ice chests and ice coolers, regardless of size, will be checked at all gates prior to entry into Dudy Noble Field-Polk Dement Stadium this season. Individuals with prohibited items will be denied entry. Stadium gates will open two hours prior to first pitch, with servicing of suites and outfield rigs permitted on game day until 30 minutes prior to the gate opening time. All individuals must exit the stadium 30 minutes prior to gate opening and may reenter at gate opening after their tickets have been scanned.
Rightfield deck no standing / Safety lane
To provide for the safe management of the newly created deck space in right field, a 4’ wide “No Standing / Safety Lane” has been marked on the right field deck. This visible, safe walkway will provide an unobstructed, free moving means for individuals and emergency personnel full access to travel along the right field deck length. At no time is it permissible to block, restrict or prevent individual movement or pedestrian traffic within and along the marked lane. Pedestrians are not permitted to stop or stand at any time within the marked lane.
FOLLOW THE DIAMOND DAWGS
For more information on the Diamond Dawg program, follow the program on Twitter, like them onFacebook 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.”
STARKVILLE, Miss. – With the regular season nearing a close, Mississippi State will open a four-game homestand to close out the regular season, starting Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. CT vs. Troy at Dudy Noble Field.
After 13-straight games against Southeastern Conference opponents, the No. 8 Diamond Dawgs (33-19) will play their final non-conference game of the regular season against a Troy (30-21) team that has won five-straight games.
MSU has won all three games in the short series history between the two sides, with a 2-0 advantage in games played in Starkville. Tuesday’s meeting will be the first meeting between the Bulldogs and Trojans since March 4, 2007 when State won 12-4. The two sides last met last season on May 11 at Troy, with the Diamond Dawgs having won 7-3 behind multi-hit games from Brent Rooker and Ryan Gridley.
For all midweek games this season, general admission tickets will be $2. Hot dogs will also be available for $2 at concessions. Fans can also visit HailState.com/memories for unique fan experiences.
Game Notes | Live Stats | Tickets
NEED TO KNOW
·21 of MSU’s 33 wins this season have come in comeback fashion, with 12 of those having come in Southeastern Conference play.
·State is now 26-2 this season when leading after six innings, 21-8 when hitting a home run, 30-5 when holding opponents to four or fewer runs and 29-6 when outhitting opponents.
·The Bulldogs are 8-0 in their last eight games decided by one run and 11-5 in one-run games on the year.
·Since March 13, 2016, the Diamond Dawgs are 38-18 in SEC regular season play. State has also won 15 of its last 19 SEC regular season series dating back to 2016.
·MSU has won 15 SEC series over the last two seasons (six in 2017 and nine in 2016), the most SEC series wins by a Bulldog team in consecutive seasons since 1988-89 (15).
·Andy Cannizaro is just the second MSU coach to achieve 30 or more victories in his very first season at the helm. (Pat McMahon won 42 games in 1998)
·In Year One of the Andy Cannizaro Era, the Diamond Dawg offense is putting up numbers that are far ahead of the 2016 offense. Last season, State hit 47 home runs and recorded 51 steals over the course of the 63-game season. Through 54 games this season, MSU has hit 47 home runs and stolen 65 bases.
·Three-time SEC Player of the Week Brent Rooker leads the SEC in seven offensive categories – batting average (.400), slugging (.879), on-base percentage (.508), RBIs (68), doubles (25), home runs (20) and total bases (167).
·Spencer Price stands atop the SEC for saves with 14.
·Elijah MacNamee (12), Hunter Stovall (12) and Josh Lovelady (10) are all in the midst of career-best reached base streaks.
·With a three-run homer on Friday, Rooker became the Diamond Dawg to reach 20+ home runs, 20+ doubles, 65+ RBIs and the first SEC hitter since Georgia's Gordon Beckham in 2008.
·With 25 doubles on the year, Rooker ranks fourth in the MSU single season record books with the most doubles by a Bulldog since 2016 Gold Glove first baseman Mitch Moreland hit 26 in 2007. (Paul Young’s 27 doubles in 1989 is the record)
·Rooker’s 20 homers is the most by an MSU batter since Tommy Raffo hit 22 in 1989. Rooker is tied for sixth in the MSU record books for home runs in a single season with 20.
·Freshman Riley Self is 5-0 on the year, the most victories by an MSU freshman since Evan Mitchell won six contests in 2011.
·State has received five wins on the mound from three of its position players in OF Brant Blaylock (1-0), 1B Cole Gordon (2-0) and OF Jake Mangum (2-1).
·With home runs by Rooker and Elijah MacNamee on Friday, MSU now has 47 homers as a team this season, tying last season's total. 47 home runs in both 2016 & 2017 respectively is the most since 2010, when MSU hit 68 as a team.
·Hunter Vansau tied a career high with three hits on Sunday at Georgia.
PITCHING MATCHUP
MSU RHP Jacob Billingsley (1-2, 5.09 ERA) vs. Troy LHP Max Newton (2-0, 4.29 ERA)
WEATHER
Tuesday – High 90, Low 62 – Sunny – 10% Chance of Rain
LIVE VIDEO & TELEVISION
Tuesday’s game will be streamed live on SEC Network + via the WatchESPN app and WatchESPN.com.
Watch Tuesday’s Game
LIVE AUDIO & RADIO
Tuesday’s tilt will air live on the Mississippi State Baseball Radio Network. The game can also be audio streamed live online at HailState.com/Plus (requires subscription), as well as on TuneIn Radio.
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 prior to first pitch of every game.
GAME MANAGEMENT POLICY CHANGES
Ice Chest / Cooler check at all DNF gates
In adherence to Southeastern Conference and MSU Game Management Policy, all ice chests and ice coolers, regardless of size, will be checked at all gates prior to entry into Dudy Noble Field-Polk Dement Stadium this season. Individuals with prohibited items will be denied entry. Stadium gates will open two hours prior to first pitch, with servicing of suites and outfield rigs permitted on game day until 30 minutes prior to the gate opening time. All individuals must exit the stadium 30 minutes prior to gate opening and may reenter at gate opening after their tickets have been scanned.
Rightfield deck no standing / Safety lane
To provide for the safe management of the newly created deck space in right field, a 4’ wide “No Standing / Safety Lane” has been marked on the right field deck. This visible, safe walkway will provide an unobstructed, free moving means for individuals and emergency personnel full access to travel along the right field deck length. At no time is it permissible to block, restrict or prevent individual movement or pedestrian traffic within and along the marked lane. Pedestrians are not permitted to stop or stand at any time within the marked lane.
FOLLOW THE DIAMOND DAWGS
For more information on the Diamond Dawg program, follow the program on Twitter, like them onFacebook 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.”
