STARKVILLE — The Mississippi State baseball team will put its unblemished mark on the line this weekend in a three-game series against Belmont University.
The Bulldogs (5-0) have excelled in all three phases with a diverse lineup. MSU has a team batting average of .347 and has held opponents to a .165 clip. Pitching, an Achilles” heel last season, has thrived with 14 players. Eight first-year Bulldogs, including five freshmen, have contributed to a 1.40 team ERA.
The Bulldogs started last season 4-1 and played freshmen early, but weren”t as crisp in each phase of the game.
With more experience and another stellar recruiting class in coach John Cohen”s third season, players are more confident and having fun, catcher Cody Freeman said.
“It”s really a lot of fun,” Freeman said Tuesday after a win against Northwestern State. “(It”s) a lot of fun playing in the dugout, a lot of energy, even in the clubhouse, coaches are having fun. I think the whole stadium is a lot better atmosphere this year.”
Freeman and senior Wes Thigpen have the responsibility of calling games, which has helped MSU”s pitchers dictate tempo.
Entering this weekend, MSU led the SEC in time needed to play a game time at two hours, 12 minutes.
Junior Devin Jones looks to follow up his dominant debut with his second straight start at 4 p.m. today.
Jones rolled through seven innings of shutout ball against Akron on Friday, allowing one hit and throwing less than 70 pitches. Cohen hailed Jones” appearance as the best of the opening weekend.
Sophomore right-hander Chris Stratton (1-0, 0.00 ERA) will start at 2 p.m. Saturday. MSU”s starter for Sunday is still to be determined.
Transfer Tim Statz started last Sunday, though reliever Andrew Busby, who earned the win Tuesday, and freshman Evan Mitchell (1-0, 0.00) saw time on the mound.
Former Freshman All-SEC pitcher Nick Routt has been throwing at 75-80 percent and is roughly a week away from limited game-action, Cohen said Monday.
MSU third basemen Jarrod Parks leads the SEC in hits with 10, and has hit safely in all five games. SEC Freshman of the Week Daryl Norris has leads the SEC with nine RBIs. Senior infielder Nick Vickerson has scored a league-high nine runs.
Belmont (2-3) dropped a midweek game to Vanderbilt 6-2 in Nashville, Tenn. Belmont will start sophomore left-hander Chase Brookshire (0-0, 9.00) today.
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