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Mississippi State baseball can make a statement against Texas A&M

Mississippi State baseball kept their hosting chances alive with a stunning walk-off Tuesday night. They now face a highly-ranked Texas A&M squad with the chance to prove they deserve to host.

By Andrew Miller

Texas A&M outfielder Braden Montgomery (6) celebrates a home run with his teammates in the first inning of the Longhorns' game against the Texas A&M Aggies at the UFCU Disch-Falk Field in Austin, Tuesday, March 5, 2024.
Texas A&M outfielder Braden Montgomery (6) celebrates a home run with his teammates in the first inning of the Longhorns' game against the Texas A&M Aggies at the UFCU Disch-Falk Field in Austin, Tuesday, March 5, 2024. / Sara Diggins/American-Statesman / USA
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Tuesday night's walk-off victory over Ole Miss will go down in Mississippi State baseball history. Connor Hujsak's heroics to stun the Rebels, ending their season, kept State's chances at hosting a regional in Starkville alive. And it also may have been the exact type of moment needed to spark a run for the Diamond Dawgs.

Now they turn their attention to the 4th-ranked Texas A&M Aggies, hoping to spring a major victory over a team that rated 1st overall by the all-important RPI. A win over A&M may be just enough to secure a hosting spot for State.

State dropped two of three in College Station against the Aggies earlier this season. But they did win Khal Stephen's start, and he'll take the mound for MSU again tonight. Can he deliver once again?

Powerful trio leads potent Texas A&M lineup

The Aggies have been one of the best hitting teams in the SEC with a .305 team average, and there's some serious pop in the lineup. RF Braden Montgomery is batting .325 with 26 home runs and leads the SEC with 80 RBI. LF Jace LaViolette leads the team with an even more absurd 28 bombs while batting .324. SEC Freshman of the Year Gavin Grahovac has gone yard 19 times.

Khal Stephen pitched a great game in State's win over A&M earlier in the year. He'll need another stellar outing Wednesday.

Shutdown reliever making second start this year for the Aggies

On the mound, Texas A&M will turn to right-hander Brad Rudis. Working almost entirely has a reliever this season, Rudis has been strong. He's 5-0 with a 1.48 ERA and a 3/1 strikeout to walk ratio. Rudis got his first start of the year last week against Arkansas.

In a short, 1.2 inning outing, he stuck out two, allowing three hits, a walk, and one run. It's unlikely he goes more than a few innings tonight, but A&M has plenty of good options behind him, headlined by Shane Sdao and Evan Aschenbeck.

Though State scored when it mattered most Tuesday night, the inconsistencies from the lineup have plagued them this year. They have to perform better against A&M.

Bulldogs can make a statement to the selection committee against A&M

After beating the Rebels, Mississippi State still has a shot to host a regional in Starkville. Personally, I don't think that win alone did enough to get them there given their resume compared to other hosting contenders.

But if they added a win over #1 RPI Texas A&M? Suddenly they're in business. A win would almost definitely move State back into the Top-20 of the RPI, and there's no denying the committee would love to see postseason baseball played at the Dude given the attendance that comes with that.

It wouldn't be a sure thing, but there'd be a really good chance at State hosting with a win. We'll see if they can get it done tonight. First pitch is scheduled for approximately 8:00 pm CT or 30 minutes after the conclusion of Vanderbilt-Tennessee. It will be broadcast on the SEC Network.

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