STARKVILLE — It’s safe to say there will be contempt and dislike in at least one Southeastern Conference baseball series this weekend.
Those feelings likely will be on display in Gainesville, Fla., where No. 25 Mississippi State will take on the No. 6 University of Florida at 6 tonight in game one of a three-game set. The series will continue at 6 p.m. Saturday and close at noon Sunday.
“I know a lot of guys just don’t like them and the way they and their coaches carry themselves,” MSU sophomore second baseman Adam Frazier said of the Gators. “It’s their swagger. They know they’re good and play that way, so you can’t hate them too much for that.”
Don’t worry, though, because the feeling is mutual for Florida toward MSU. But Frazier knows the Bulldogs will have to write a different ending to this series than the one they endured in the 2011 Gainesville Super Regional if they want to secure a NCAA tournament regional berth for the second consecutive year.
“I remember us walking some guys and then getting some hits and then they’re dog piling on each other at the end,” said Frazier, who said he is friends with some of the Gators. “We had them last year.”
The animosity between the teams began last season when Florida beat MSU 18-0 on the Saturday of Super Bulldog Weekend. In that game, outfielder Taylor Stark appeared to intentionally step on the foot of first baseman Vickash Ramjit. The Gators responded the next half inning by hitting outfielder C.T. Bradford, the Mr. Baseball selection from the state of Florida, in the back on the first pitch. The move prompted the home plate umpire to issue a warning. After the game, both coaching staffs met behind home plate to discuss what transpired.
For the No. 6 Gators (36-13, 14-10 in SEC), the players don’t foresee anything happening between the clubs when they meet at McKethan Stadium.
“They just another great team in the SEC, and we’re ready for the challenge,” said pitcher Hudson Randall, who is scheduled to start tonight against Chris Stratton. “It was a hard-fought weekend (last year) where teams get excited in big situations, but it wasn’t anything beyond that.”
MSU coach John Cohen, who will sit out tonight’s game after the SEC suspended him for his actions Sunday following a loss at the University of Alabama, has attempted to downplay the animosity between the programs.
“Players think about those things. Coaches don’t,” Cohen said. “I think sometimes those things distract from a highly competitive situation. I can promise you our coaching staff hasn’t spent one moment on that stuff.”
No. 25 MSU (30-18, 12-12) has won nine of its past 11 games. It also has won a five-year high three consecutive SEC series. However, the Bulldogs last won a series against the Gators in 2007.
“We know they’ve been No. 1 in the nation in some polls all year, and again they carry themselves like they’re the best, so we need to bring our ‘A’ game to beat them. That’s for sure,” Frazier said.
Florida’s bullpen might be its biggest weapon this season. It has three pitchers coach Kevin O’Sullivan likes to use in late-game situations to secure victories. Greg Larson, left-hander Steven Rodriguez, and closer Austin Maddox have ERAs under 2.00. Opponents are hitting less than .200 against them in a season where they’ve appeared in half of Florida’s games.
“Several times in college baseball you’re looking to get into a team’s pen, but that’s what makes them so different than a generic college bullpen,” Cohen said. “They all look different and give you different challenges. That’s what makes them a really good club because they have a guy for whatever situation comes up.”
MSU assistant coaches Butch Thompson and Lane Burroughs will divide the responsibilities of the pitching and offense tonight. The Bulldogs also will look for another strong outing from Stratton, a candidate for the 2012 Golden Spikes Award. He leads the SEC with nine wins and is second with a 2.19 ERA. The Tupelo product also is tied for third in the NCAA with 101 strikeouts.
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