Diamond Dawg Gameday: Princeton

STARKVILLE – No. 23 Mississippi State returns home this weekend as the Diamond Dawgs host Princeton in a three-game series beginning at 4 p.m. CT on Friday, March 11, at Dudy Noble Field.

All three games will be broadcast on SEC Network+. The series will also be carried on the Mississippi State Sports Network powered by Learfield along with a live audio stream via HailState.com/plus. Click HERE for a full list of the 2022 MSU Baseball Radio Affiliates.

GAME COVERAGE

Friday, March 11 – 4 p.m. | Watch on SEC Network+ | Live Stats
Saturday, March 12 – 1 p.m. | Watch on SEC Network+ | Live Stats
Sunday, March 13 – 1 p.m. | Watch on SEC Network+ | Live Stats

THE ROTATION

Friday, March 11
- MSU: Preston Johnson, RHP, So. (1-0, 2.76 ERA, 3-2 APP-GS, 16.1 IP, 23 SO, 7 BB)
- PRIN: Jackson Emus, RHP, Jr. (0-1, 1.38 ERA, 2-2 APP-GS, 13.0 IP, 19 SO, 3 BB)
Saturday, March 12
- MSU: Cade Smith, RHP, So. (2-0, 2.65 ERA, 3-3 APP-GS, 17.0 IP, 16 SO, 4 BB)
- PRIN: Tom Chmielewski, LHP, So. (0-1, 4.91 ERA, 2-2 APP-GS, 11.0 IP, 9 SO, 1 BB)
Sunday, March 13
- MSU: TBD
- PRIN: Andrew D'Alessio, RHP, Fr. (0-0, 4.09 ERA, 2-2 APP-GS, 11.0 IP, 3 SO, 3 BB)

DAWG BITES

Mississippi State enters the week with a 7-7 overall record over the first 14 games of the season. The Diamond Dawgs are returning home after six straight games away from Dudy Noble Field and enter the weekend with a 5-3 record at home.

This weekend's series will mark the first time MSU and Princeton have met on the diamond. Mississippi State is 3-0 all-time against Ivy League schools with two wins over Columbia in 2017 and a win over Yale in 1967.

Offensively, the Dawgs are hitting .260 as a team with 17 home runs, 17 doubles and 104 runs scored. MSU is out-scoring opponents 104-69 through 14 games.

On the mound, MSU pitchers have combined for a 4.63 team ERA in 122.1 innings pitched. Opponents are hitting .235 against the Dawgs' pitching staff, while MSU pitchers have struck out 158 batters and walked 54 through the first 14 games of the season.

Mississippi State freshman Hunter Hines is leading the Dawgs at the plate with a .367 average and a team-best four home runs on the season. In the last five games, Hines is hitting .476 (10-for-21) with three home runs, three doubles and has driven in nine RBIs over that stretch.

THE COMPETITION

Opponent: Princeton Tigers
2022 Record: 0-8

Princeton is led by head coach Scott Bradley, who is in his 24th season with the Tigers. Princeton enters the week in search of its first win of the season following the first eight games.

Five of Princeton's eight losses have come by three runs or less, including one-run defeats to Purdue twice (L, 3-4; L, 4-5), VCU (L, 1-2) and Richmond (L, 8-9).

Princeton has yet to play a home game in 2022 after opening the year with four neutral site games versus Purdue followed by four straight road games. The Tigers are in the midst of an 11-game road swing before opening Ivy League play at home versus Yale on March 26.

Princeton has not played a full baseball season since the 2019 campaign. The Tigers' 2020 season was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic, while the 2021 campaign was also canceled after the Ivy League decided not to hold league competition or host league championships last spring.

Visit www.HailState.com for the latest news and information on the baseball program. Fans can also follow the program on social media by searching 'HailStateBB' on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

Diamond Dawg Gameday: Princeton

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Hunter Hines

Preston Johnson

Cade Smith

Mississippi State University Athletics

Diamond Dawg Gameday: Princeton

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Hunter Hines

Preston Johnson

Cade Smith

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