Diamond Dawgs Head to Biloxi For a Pair of Games

STARKVILLE - The Mississippi State baseball team returns to Biloxi to face South Alabama and New Orleans at the Hancock Whitney Classic. First pitch is set for 6 p.m. on Tuesday night and 5 p.m. Wednesday at Shucker Ballpark.

The Hancock Whitney Classic will be broadcast on SECN+ and carried on the Mississippi State Sports Network powered by Learfield, along with a live audio stream via HailState.com/OnDemand.

Gameday Info
Tuesday, March 8 (6 p.m.)
Probable Starters
MSU: Bradley Loftin (0-0), LHP, So.
USA: Mitchell Heer (0-0), RHP, Jr.

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Wednesday, March 13 (5 p.m.)
Probable Starters
MSU: TBD
UNO: TBD

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Quick Hitters

Mississippi State sophomore outfielder Dakota Jordan has been named SEC Co-Player of the Week; the conference office announced Monday. Jordan led the SEC with a .692 batting average (9-for-13) last week to go along with a .778 on-base percentage, four home runs and two doubles. He drove in 13 runs and helped the Bulldogs to a 4-0 record for the week. Jordan was 2-for-4 with a home run against Southern Miss on Tuesday, and he homered in all three games in a sweep over Evansville. He drove in four runs in each of the first two games of the series. His homer against Southern Miss in Pearl on Tuesday night put the Dawgs ahead for good in the top of the seventh inning.
The Diamond Dawgs head to Biloxi for the third straight season as they will participate in the Hancock Whitney Classic. The Dawgs will take on South Alabama on Tuesday before facing New Orleans on Wednesday. The Dawgs were 2-0 last year in Biloxi with wins over Nicholls State and Louisiana. Since 2020, the Diamond Dawgs are 5-1 when playing in Biloxi.
The Diamond Dawgs tallied a shutout for the first time since the 2021 season. The 6-0 shutout over Mount St. Mary's, on March 2, was the first shutout for Mississippi State since June 30, 2021, against Vanderbilt, which resulted in the Dawgs winning the National Championship. This was also the first shutout at Dudy Noble Field since March 12, 2021.
Diamond Dawgs have won nine-straight games. MSU has not won ten straight games since the 2019 season, when they won 14 straight from Feb. 23 - March 16. The Dawgs had a 17-game winning streak in 2013 to open the season.
The Diamond Dawgs have been strong on the mound this season as they post a team ERA of 3.57, the 18th best mark in the nation. They have a strikeout to walk ratio of 3.79, the fifth best mark in the country. The Diamond Dawgs are averaging 11.6 strikeouts per nine innings, the 12th best mark in NCAA D1 Baseball. As a staff, the Dawgs have tallied 182 strikeouts and only issued 48 walks. Jurrangelo Cijntje leads the team with 35 strikeouts on the season with Nate Dohm following with 32.
Following a freshman season that saw Dakota Jordan show off his power by hitting tape measure homers, the sophomore is ready for his second season in the Maroon and White. On Feb. 9, Jordan was one of 55 players in the nation that were named to the Golden Spikes Award Preseason Watch List. The Golden Spikes award to the best amateur baseball player in the nation. Jordan leads the team with eight home runs and is hitting a team-best .414.
Just last year Joe Powell was in EMT school training to be a firefighter but a call from Mississippi State's staff turned things around and got him back on the diamond. After 18 months away from the diamond, Powell has put together a .350 batting average, four hits and four RBIs.
The Dude Effect is alive and well. Reserved seating has once again sold out for the season. Mississippi State has sold out reserved seating since 1987.
Mississippi State is great at turning out major league talent, with 68 Diamond Dawgs reaching the highest level of the sport, but it is also great at keeping student-athletes on campus.

Scouting the Opponent - South Alabama

South Alabama enters the Hancock Whitney Classic with an 11-5 record.
The Jaguars have a .260 team batting average with Ethan Melton leading the pack with .340.
South Alabama's pitching staff has punched out 143 this season and has a .466 ERA.
South Alabama has only played three away games this season. The Jaguars faced Nebraska and came away with a 2-1 series loss.
South Alabama is tied for third best record in the Sun Belt Conference.
This will be the first neutral site game of the year for the Jaguars.

Scouting the Opponent - New Orleans

New Orleans enters the midweek with an 8-7 record after a weekend series at Florida State where they went 0-3.
Mitchell Sanford leads the team with a .383 batting average. New Orleans as a team has collected a .265 batting average.
New Orleans have struck out 125 and put together a 7.72 ERA.
New Orleans have drawn 85 walks this season, the 47^th best mark in the NCAA.
This will be the first neutral site game of the year for the Privateers.

Series Notes

Mississippi State faces South Alabama for the first since April 10, 2019, on Tuesday. MSU has won the pervious two matchups against the Jaguars.
For the first time since 2005, the Diamond Dawgs will play New Orleans. MSU has won five straight over New Orleans. The last matchup went to the Dawgs, 8-4, on March 23, 2005.

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 X, Facebook and Instagram.

Diamond Dawgs Head to Biloxi For a Pair of Games

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Jurrangelo Cijntje

Nate Dohm

Dakota Jordan

Bradley Loftin

Joe Powell

Mississippi State University Athletics

Diamond Dawgs Head to Biloxi For a Pair of Games

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Jurrangelo Cijntje

Nate Dohm

Dakota Jordan

Bradley Loftin

Joe Powell

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