After 19 Game Homestand, Bulldogs are 17-2
Unfortunately Central Arkansas not only ended MSU’s 17-game winning streak to start the year – stopping this team just short of tying the school record of 18 – but they took 2 out of 3 in the series, putting State at 17-2 heading into this week.
The Diamond Dawgs dropped in all the polls, but remain anywhere between 8th – 14th depending on which you subscribe to. Baseball America, the poll that had us rated 3rd last week, dropped us down to 13th.
Losing the series to UCA was certainly disappointing, especially since they may be the best team we’ve played so far (14-2 on the year) – yet are not a SEC team. Still, you have to be really good to win 17 in a row, or even just 17 of 19 games, at home or not, against whoever.
The home crowds have been out despite some bitterly cold weather early on. 104,619 folks have entered the gates of Dudy Noble so far this year, good for 2nd in the country. On average, MSU ranks 5th with 6,538 per game. The top 5 schools in attendance are all from the S-E-C.
Coming up next is Southern Miss this evening to round out the non-conference schedule. Luis Pollorena (3-0, 1.88 ERA) will get the start – his second of the season – as Brandon Woodruff and Will Cox saw action in the weekend series. Southern got as high as #21 this earlier this year, but they are 8-7 losing 7 of their last 10 games. The game will be played at Trustmark Park in Pearl, MS.
The SEC slate kicks off this weekend at the Dude with #7 LSU. This, of course, is a huge series. Even though it’s the tail end of spring break everyone needs to show up and make for a great atmosphere (we will be done with the SEC Tournament by then anyway so come on out). It appears as though Jacob Lindgren will be able to pitch on Friday night after suffering a bone bruise in the 1st inning of his last start – but a MRI revealed no ligament damage.
Statistical Leaders
AVG – Hunter Renfroe (.420)
HR – Hunter Renfroe (4)
RBI – Hunter Renfroe (17), Alex Detz (17)
Hits – Adam Frazier (29)
Runs – Adam Frazier (19)
On base % – Alex Detz (.551)
Wins – Ross Mitchell (4)
ERA (minimum 10 IP) – Jacob Lindgren (0.96)
IP – Kendall Graveman (20.2)
Saves – Johnathan Holder (6)
SO – Jacob Lindgren (22); SO per 9 IP – Johnathon Holder(19)
Mississippi State leads the SEC in team batting average (.319) and team ERA (1.73). Pretty good.
Overall SEC Standings (Baseball America ranking in parenthesis)
1. Ole Miss (#6), 16-1
2. LSU (#7), 15-1
3. Mississippi State (#13), 17-2
4. Vanderbilt (#2), 15-2
5. Kentucky (#10), 13-2
5. South Carolina (#5), 13-2
7. Auburn, 12-3
8. Arkansas (#15), 11-5
9. Texas A&M, 10-7
10. Alabama, 8-7
11. Tennessee, 7-7
12. Florida, 8-9
13. Georgia, 7-8
14. Missouri, 3-7
Wow, the SEC has some elite teams – seven in the top 15! And how about Florida’s fall from grace? I’m sure they’ll be back, but that is a shocking record. It’s time for conference play, Hail State.