Friday, April 28
Starkville
6:30 PM
Mississippi State
vs
#8 Auburn
State has won five straight SEC series with a 13-2 record in their last 15 league games.
Bulldogs, Tigers To Meet In Top 10 Series At Dudy Noble
April 27, 2017 | Baseball
STARKVILLE, Miss. – With a pair of top 10 teams to meet this weekend when No. 7 Mississippi State and No. 5 Auburn clash, all eyes are on Dudy Noble Field as the top two teams in the Southeastern Conference face off for a three-game series.
While the Diamond Dawgs (29-14, 13-5 SEC) have won five-straight SEC series and are 13-2 in their last 15 league games, the Tigers (30-13, 12-6 SEC) have won five of their six conference series on the season.
The series will open on Friday at 6:30 p.m. CT on SEC Network+, which can be viewed through WatchESPN.com and the Watch ESPN app, while Saturday's (7 p.m.) and Sunday's (Noon) games will air nationally on the SEC Network.
MSU's series with Auburn is the fifth oldest in program history, beginning play in 1908, with the Bulldogs leading the all-time series 105-88-1. State holds a 56-31 advantage in games played in Starkville and has won two of the last three series between the teams at Dudy Noble. The Diamond Dawgs have won four-straight games against the Tigers, including a three-game sweep in 2016 at Auburn.
VIDEO: Andy Cannizaro previews the weekend's top 10 series vs. Auburn
Game Notes | Live Stats
NEED TO KNOW
WEEKEND WEATHER FORECAST
Friday Forecast: High 87, Low 69 – Partly Cloud – 20% Chance of Rain
Saturday Forecast: High 88, Low 70 – PM Thunderstorms – 20% Chance of Rain
Sunday Forecast: High 80, Low 51 – Thunderstorms – 90% Chance of Rain
LIVE VIDEO & TELEVISION
Friday's game will air strictly on SEC Network+ via the WatchESPN app and WatchESPN.com, while the final two games of the series on Saturday and Sunday will both be nationally televised on SEC Network, as well as on mobile devices through the WatchESPN app and WatchESPN.com.
Watch Friday's Game | Watch Saturday's Game | Watch Sunday's Game
LIVE AUDIO & RADIO
All three games this weekend will air live on the Mississippi State Baseball Radio Network. They will also be on TuneIn Radio and will be audio streamed live online at HailState.com/Plus (requires subscription).
PROBABLE STARTERS
Friday – MSU So. LHP Konnor Pilkington (4-3, 3.30 ERA) vs. AU RJr. RHP Keegan Thompson (5-1, 1.48 ERA)
Saturday – MSU RFr. RHP Cole Gordon (2-0, 4.55 ERA) vs. AU Fr. RHP Davis Daniel (3-2, 4.14 ERA)
Sunday – MSU RJr. RHP Jacob Billingsley (1-0, 4.18 ERA) vs. AU 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 prior to first pitch of every game.
WEEKEND PROMOTIONS
Bully's Kids Club members and MSU students get in free with MSU ID for all regular season home games
Friday – Friday Night Fireworks, which will take place following all home Friday SEC games in 2017.
Saturday – Military Appreciation Game and the next poster in our #STATEtoTheShow poster series, featuring Baltimore Orioles manager Buck Showalter.
Sunday – FREE trading card sets for the first 1,000 fans (Set four of four). "Kids' Day at the Park" featuring inflatables and kids running the bases postgame.
Fans can also visit HailState.com/memories for incredible fan experiences such as:
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 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."
While the Diamond Dawgs (29-14, 13-5 SEC) have won five-straight SEC series and are 13-2 in their last 15 league games, the Tigers (30-13, 12-6 SEC) have won five of their six conference series on the season.
The series will open on Friday at 6:30 p.m. CT on SEC Network+, which can be viewed through WatchESPN.com and the Watch ESPN app, while Saturday's (7 p.m.) and Sunday's (Noon) games will air nationally on the SEC Network.
MSU's series with Auburn is the fifth oldest in program history, beginning play in 1908, with the Bulldogs leading the all-time series 105-88-1. State holds a 56-31 advantage in games played in Starkville and has won two of the last three series between the teams at Dudy Noble. The Diamond Dawgs have won four-straight games against the Tigers, including a three-game sweep in 2016 at Auburn.
VIDEO: Andy Cannizaro previews the weekend's top 10 series vs. Auburn
Game Notes | Live Stats
NEED TO KNOW
- 20 of MSU's 29 wins this season have been in comeback fashion with 11 of those having been in Southeastern Conference play.
- The Diamond Dawgs have now won 13 of their last 15 SEC games and five-straight conference series. The Bulldogs are off to their best SEC start since the 1989 team got off to a 16-2 record in its first 18 SEC games.
- Since March 13, 2016, the Diamond Dawgs are 34-13 in SEC regular season play. State has also won 14 of its last 16 SEC regular season series dating back to 2016. Their 14 SEC series wins during that span are a league best.
- MSU is 13-3 when scoring in the first inning this season, 25-4 when having out-hit their opponents, 23-2 when leading after six innings and 18-3 when holding opponents to four or fewer runs.
- 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 32 home runs and recorded 35 steals through the first 43 games. Through 43 games this season, MSU has hit 41 home runs and stolen 63 bases.
- While ranking second in the SEC in stolen bases (63) and triples (11), State sits third in the league in slugging (.442), hits (425), home runs (41), total bases (647) and hit by pitch (51).
- Brent Rooker leads the SEC in nine offensive categories – batting average (.403), slugging (.893), on-base percentage (.505), hits (64), RBIs (61), doubles (21) home runs (17), total bases (142) and steals (16).
- Three Diamond Dawgs rank among the best in the SEC in batting average (Brent Rooker – 1st, 64, Jake Mangum – 8th, .345 and Ryan Gridley – 12th, .339) and hits (Brent Rooker – 1st, .403, Jake Mangum – 5th, 60 and Ryan Gridley – 6th, 58).
- MSU closer Spencer Price leads the SEC and all of Division I baseball in saves with 14.
- In all nine starts this season, Konnor Pilkington has thrown at least five strikeouts (77 total). His 77 strikeouts rank second in the SEC, as does the number of batters he has struck out looking (28).
- Konnor Pilkington (4-3, 3.30 ERA) made his 10th start of the season last week and earned his seventh quality start, striking out five over 5.2 innings and allowing only four earned runs for the win.
- 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).
- Hunter Stovall is currently riding an eight-game hit streak dating back to April 14 at South Carolina.
- Ryan Gridley has reached base in 13 consecutive games.
- With a double against Ole Miss on Tuesday, Brent Rooker is now tied for ninth in program history for most doubles in a season with 21. Pete Young, who hit 27 doubles in 1989, holds the record.
- Rooker's 17 homers are the most by a Bulldog hitter since 2009, when Connor Powers hit 19. His 61 RBIs is the most since Hunter Renfroe drove in 64 in 2013.
- State's Governor's Cup victory on Tuesday was its fourth in the last five years and its fifth-straight victory against Ole Miss.
WEEKEND WEATHER FORECAST
Friday Forecast: High 87, Low 69 – Partly Cloud – 20% Chance of Rain
Saturday Forecast: High 88, Low 70 – PM Thunderstorms – 20% Chance of Rain
Sunday Forecast: High 80, Low 51 – Thunderstorms – 90% Chance of Rain
LIVE VIDEO & TELEVISION
Friday's game will air strictly on SEC Network+ via the WatchESPN app and WatchESPN.com, while the final two games of the series on Saturday and Sunday will both be nationally televised on SEC Network, as well as on mobile devices through the WatchESPN app and WatchESPN.com.
Watch Friday's Game | Watch Saturday's Game | Watch Sunday's Game
LIVE AUDIO & RADIO
All three games this weekend will air live on the Mississippi State Baseball Radio Network. They will also be on TuneIn Radio and will be audio streamed live online at HailState.com/Plus (requires subscription).
PROBABLE STARTERS
Friday – MSU So. LHP Konnor Pilkington (4-3, 3.30 ERA) vs. AU RJr. RHP Keegan Thompson (5-1, 1.48 ERA)
Saturday – MSU RFr. RHP Cole Gordon (2-0, 4.55 ERA) vs. AU Fr. RHP Davis Daniel (3-2, 4.14 ERA)
Sunday – MSU RJr. RHP Jacob Billingsley (1-0, 4.18 ERA) vs. AU 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 prior to first pitch of every game.
WEEKEND PROMOTIONS
Bully's Kids Club members and MSU students get in free with MSU ID for all regular season home games
Friday – Friday Night Fireworks, which will take place following all home Friday SEC games in 2017.
Saturday – Military Appreciation Game and the next poster in our #STATEtoTheShow poster series, featuring Baltimore Orioles manager Buck Showalter.
Sunday – FREE trading card sets for the first 1,000 fans (Set four of four). "Kids' Day at the Park" featuring inflatables and kids running the bases postgame.
Fans can also visit HailState.com/memories for incredible fan experiences such as:
- Videoboard Message ($35)
- Diamond Girl for a Day ($29)
- Jr. Public Address Announcer ($10)
- "Play Ball" Announcer ($10)
- Deliver the Rosin Bag to Pitcher ($10)
- Second Base Delivery ($10)
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 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."
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