Mississippi State Baseball vs Alabama 2018 Series Preview

OMAHA, NE - JUNE 24: Mississippi State Bulldogs players huddle just before playing the UCLA Bruins during game one of the College World Series Finals on June 24, 2013 at TD Ameritrade Park in Omaha, Nebraska. UCLA won 3-1. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)
OMAHA, NE - JUNE 24: Mississippi State Bulldogs players huddle just before playing the UCLA Bruins during game one of the College World Series Finals on June 24, 2013 at TD Ameritrade Park in Omaha, Nebraska. UCLA won 3-1. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)
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OMAHA, NE – JUNE 24: Mississippi State Bulldogs players sit in the dugout before playing the UCLA Bruins during game one of the College World Series Finals on June 24, 2013 at TD Ameritrade Park in Omaha, Nebraska. UCLA won 3-1. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)
OMAHA, NE – JUNE 24: Mississippi State Bulldogs players sit in the dugout before playing the UCLA Bruins during game one of the College World Series Finals on June 24, 2013 at TD Ameritrade Park in Omaha, Nebraska. UCLA won 3-1. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)

Mississippi State Will Have Plenty Of Opportunities At The Plate. Can They Take Advantage Of Them?

Statistically, Alabama’s pitching staff is definitely not one of the best in the Southeastern Conference. Their team’s total combined 3.90 ERA for the year comes in as the 9th best in the SEC. Along with that 3.90 ERA, Alabama’s pitching staff has struck out 316 of their opponents’ batters.

Statistically, that’s not the best in the world. Or, well, the conference. And things get even worse from there once we start talking about SEC play.

Alabama’s team SEC ERA sits at 5.04. They’ve allowed for 19 home runs against opponents from the Southeastern Conference and have only struck out 138 opposing batters. Mississippi State isn’t the best team in the conference when it comes to getting hits and scoring, but the Bulldogs will have plenty of chances this weekend.

MSU, in SEC play, has a .256 batting average. Alabama this season allows its SEC opponents to hit for a .305 batting average against the Crimson Tide. The Bulldogs will need to take advantage of any and every opportunity.