STARKVILLE — Dakota Hudson and Austin Sexton aren’t worried.
After having three good outings to begin Southeastern Conference play, the Mississippi State baseball pitchers have been roughed up in their last two outings. Both Florida and Texas A&M touched up the two junior right-handers.
But as veterans, they understand that’s part of the game.
“It’s just baseball,” Hudson said. “That’s two good teams I’ve had to compete against. I don’t feel like I’ve been doing much different, I still feel like I’m getting out there and competing, it’s just as we get deeper into the season, you kind of have to attack teams a little bit different. I feel like I did that, I just got hit.”
Although they head to a tough environment, Hudson and Sexton both get chances to redeem themselves. No. 7 MSU (25-12-1, 8-7 SEC) plays at Alex Box Stadium against No. 5 LSU (26-11, 9-6) 7 p.m. today (SEC Network+), 6 p.m. Saturday (ESPNU) and noon Sunday (ESPN2).
Hudson (4-3, 2.08 ERA), who will start today, threw five innings and allowed six runs (five earned) on eight hits against the Gators to take a loss. The Dunlap, Tennessee, native struck out three but walked two. Against the Aggies, Hudson faired better allowing four runs on 10 hits in seven-plus innings, but took the loss. He struck out eight and walked one.
Saturday starter Sexton (3-2, 3.96), was given a 9-0 lead against the Gators, but he lasted four innings. He gave up three runs on eight hits, but Ryan Rigby threw the final five innings to pick up the win. Sexton walked two and struck out two. He struggled against a hot-hitting Aggie squad and threw three innings, leaving with a hamstring injury. He gave up five runs on nine hits. He didn’t issue a walk and struck out two in the loss.
“Sometimes you’re going to go through things and you’re going to learn and you’re going to grow,” Sexton said. “I know every time I go out there I’m not going to be perfect, but I’m going to do my best to be perfect. It’s just part of baseball.”
Sexton has been rehabbing this week and both he and MSU coach John Cohen expect him to get the start.
After his first three SEC starts (no decision at Vanderbilt, win over Georgia and win over Ole Miss), Hudson was considered one of the top pitchers in the league. He won SEC Pitcher of the Week twice and seemed to be unstoppable. But Florida and Texas A&M had more film to study on him.
Cohen said the Aggies did a good job of isolating Hudson’s cutter.
“Even when you know a 92 mile per hour cutter is coming, you still have to be able to put the barrel in the right place and produce and that’s what they did,” Cohen said. “Dakota’s had a little bit of bad luck in his last two outings but at the same time he’s faced two pretty good offensive teams. There’s no doubt in my mind he’s going to get back to where he was and be able to reel through some innings.”
Hudson said the adjustments the offense makes to him and the adjustment he makes to their adjustments is like a chess match going back and forth.
He said he is not lacking for confidence after the last two outings and has been in the film room every day. He said he hasn’t taken anything negative away from his outings, but has learned some new things about himself.
“I just feel like teams have been sitting on some of my stuff just in certain counts,” Hudson said. “It’s just patterns that I’ve kind of gotten into that they’re seeing. I feel like they’ve been capitalizing on just seeing that and just counts where I’m ahead or behind.”
MSU hasn’t announced a starter for Sunday, but freshman left-hander Konnor Pilkington (1-0, 1.69) started against Florida and Texas A&M.
The Bulldogs beat Louisiana-Monroe 1-0 in 14 innings Wednesday night in Biloxi.
The Tigers will throw junior left-hander Jared Poche’ (5-3, 2.63) today, sophomore right-hander Alex Lange (4-2, 4.88) Saturday and senior left-hander John Valek III (6-1, 3.42) Sunday.
The Tigers, who have won five in a row, are batting .304 with eight guys batting over. 300, including Antoine Duplantis at .365.
The last time Hudson and Sexton were in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, it didn’t go so great. Starting Sunday’s finale in 2014, Hudson gave up six runs (five earned) on six hits in 2 2/3 innings. He walked three and did not record a strikeout to take the loss. Sexton came out of the bullpen and gave up six runs on three hits in 1 1/3 innings.
They view that as a learning experience.
“I think that was us being freshmen and learning,” Sexton said. “I think we’re eager to get back out there, especially after these last two weekends.”
Hudson and Sexton said they have been teased by some of the other veterans who were there in 2014. However, they have also found support from those teammates.
Since the weekend, Hudson and Sexton have had to bide their time and wait for their next opportunity. It hasn’t been easy, but they know it’s a part of pitching.
“It’s frustrating but at the same time you get a chance to do a touchup,” Sexton said. “You get to work on things, but you have to wait a full week. You’re ready and eager to get back out there.”
n In other baseball news, Hudson was named to the 2016 Golden Spikes Award 60-player midseason watch list, USA baseball announced Wednesday.
He was one of 14 SEC players on the list.
The annual award is presented to the top amateur baseball player. Semifinalists will be announced June 1 with finalists selected June 13. The award will be presented June 30 in Los Angeles.
Former Bulldog Will Clark won the award in 1985.
Follow Dispatch sports writer Ben Wait on Twitter @bcwait
Ben Wait reports on Mississippi State University sports for The Dispatch.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 43 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.