Friday, April 7
Starkville
6:00 PM
Mississippi State
vs
#15 Kentucky
14 of MSU's 20 wins this season have been in comeback fashion.
Dudy Noble Field To Host Top 25 Matchup For Super Bulldog Weekend
April 06, 2017 | Baseball
STARKVILLE, Miss. – The biggest spring weekend on the Mississippi State campus will play host to two of the Southeastern Conference's best offenses in a top 25 matchup at Dudy Noble Field on Super Bulldog Weekend.
The No. 25/22/19 Diamond Dawgs (20-11, 6-3 SEC) will take on No. 10/13/15 Kentucky (21-9, 7-2 SEC) in a three-game series as two of the league's hottest teams square off.
The three-game set will commence Friday at 6 p.m. CT and will be followed by another 6 p.m. matchup on Saturday before a 1 p.m. first pitch on Sunday. All three games will air live on SEC Network+ through WatchESPN.com and the Watch ESPN app.
MSU leads the all-time series 59-38 and holds a 38-12 advantage in games played in Starkville. This weekend's meeting will mark the first time the two sides have met in nearly two years as the Wildcats took two of three from State in a 2015 regular season series in Lexington.
2016 MLB Draft pick and redshirt junior Brent Rooker has made his name known nationally in 2017 with his overwhelming success at the plate and jaw-dropping offensive numbers. The reigning SEC Player of the Week, earlier today Rooker was named the NCBWA Player of the Month for March, along with being named a Midseason All-American by D1 Baseball and Perfect Game.
VIDEO: Andy Cannizaro previews Super Bulldog Weekend
Game Notes | Live Stats
NEED TO KNOW
WEEKEND WEATHER FORECAST
Friday Forecast: High 65, Low 38 – Sunny – 0% Chance of Rain
Saturday Forecast: High 73, Low 47 – Sunny – 10% Chance of Rain
Sunday Forecast: High 80, Low 50 – Mostly Sunny – 10% Chance of Rain
LIVE VIDEO & TELEVISION
All MSU's games this weekend will be streamed live on SEC Network + via 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 (7-7, 3.05 ERA) vs. UK So. RHP Sean Hjelle (4-2, 4.98 ERA)
Saturday – MSU TBA vs. UK Jr. LHP Zach Logue (5-1, 2.22 ERA)
Sunday – MSU TBA vs. UK RSo. RHP Justin Lewis (4-1, 2.83 ERA)
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 – The fifth of seven State to the Show poster giveaways will take place, with the first 1,000 fans able to get a Mitch Moreland poster.
Sunday – FREE trading card sets for the first 1,000 fans (Set three 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."
The No. 25/22/19 Diamond Dawgs (20-11, 6-3 SEC) will take on No. 10/13/15 Kentucky (21-9, 7-2 SEC) in a three-game series as two of the league's hottest teams square off.
The three-game set will commence Friday at 6 p.m. CT and will be followed by another 6 p.m. matchup on Saturday before a 1 p.m. first pitch on Sunday. All three games will air live on SEC Network+ through WatchESPN.com and the Watch ESPN app.
MSU leads the all-time series 59-38 and holds a 38-12 advantage in games played in Starkville. This weekend's meeting will mark the first time the two sides have met in nearly two years as the Wildcats took two of three from State in a 2015 regular season series in Lexington.
2016 MLB Draft pick and redshirt junior Brent Rooker has made his name known nationally in 2017 with his overwhelming success at the plate and jaw-dropping offensive numbers. The reigning SEC Player of the Week, earlier today Rooker was named the NCBWA Player of the Month for March, along with being named a Midseason All-American by D1 Baseball and Perfect Game.
VIDEO: Andy Cannizaro previews Super Bulldog Weekend
Game Notes | Live Stats
NEED TO KNOW
- 14 of MSU's 20 wins this season have come in comeback fashion.
- MSU leads the SEC in steals (50), while ranking second in hits (313), triples (10), home runs (31) and total bases (479). State also ranks third in batting average (.294) and hit by pitch (35).
- State is 14-5 this season when hitting a home run, 11-2 when scoring in the first inning and 18-3 when out-hitting its opponent.
- 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 21 home runs, eight triples and recorded 29 steals through the first 31 games. Through 31 games this season, MSU has hit 31 home runs, 10 triples and stole 50 bases.
- During the four-game stretch that led him to be named SEC Player of the Week, Brent Rooker went 7-for-17 (.412) at the plate with five doubles, one triple, one home run and five RBIs for a 1.000 slugging percentage.
- Through two games this week, Rooker is 5-for-8 (.625) at the plate with three home runs and seven RBIs.
- Rooker leads the SEC in batting average (.436), slugging percentage (.949), on-base percent-age (.524), hits (51), RBIs (50), doubles (18), total bases (111), home runs (12) and stolen bases (14).
- Rooker is also currently in the midst of a career-long 16-game hit streak and 18-game reached base streak.
- Sophomore LHP Konnor Pilkington has thrown 5+ strikeouts in all seven of his appearances this season. Pilkington ranks second in the SEC in strikeouts (58) and third in batters struck out looking (20).
- After recording a save in all three wins at No. 19 Ole Miss last weekend, sophomore closer Spencer Price now has nine saves on the season, which ranks first in the SEC and fifth in the nation.
- After hitting .190 (4-for-21) through the first five games of the season, Gridley has since hit .379 (39-for-103) with 24 runs, 21 RBI, five doubles, one triple, five home runs, a .592 slugging percentage and .443 on-base percentage.
- Josh Lovelady got off to a 4-for-25 (.160) start to the season at the plate through his first nine games played of the season and in the last 10 games he is 12-for-30 (.400) at the plate with two doubles, a career-first triple, nine RBIs and four multi-hit games.
WEEKEND WEATHER FORECAST
Friday Forecast: High 65, Low 38 – Sunny – 0% Chance of Rain
Saturday Forecast: High 73, Low 47 – Sunny – 10% Chance of Rain
Sunday Forecast: High 80, Low 50 – Mostly Sunny – 10% Chance of Rain
LIVE VIDEO & TELEVISION
All MSU's games this weekend will be streamed live on SEC Network + via 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 (7-7, 3.05 ERA) vs. UK So. RHP Sean Hjelle (4-2, 4.98 ERA)
Saturday – MSU TBA vs. UK Jr. LHP Zach Logue (5-1, 2.22 ERA)
Sunday – MSU TBA vs. UK RSo. RHP Justin Lewis (4-1, 2.83 ERA)
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 – The fifth of seven State to the Show poster giveaways will take place, with the first 1,000 fans able to get a Mitch Moreland poster.
Sunday – FREE trading card sets for the first 1,000 fans (Set three 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."
Players Mentioned
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LHP
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RHP
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OF
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