STARKVILLE — Gavin Collins’ focus isn’t going to change.
The junior third baseman saw the Mississippi State baseball team lose two midweek games three weeks ago after a three-game sweep of then-No. 11 Oregon.
Since then, the Bulldogs haven’t lost a midweek game. But coming off a series victory against Ole Miss, No. 5 MSU has to stay focused at 6:30 tonight (SEC Network+) when it plays host to Tennessee-Martin at Dudy Noble Field.
Tonight’s game originally was scheduled to be a doubleheader, but it was changed to one game Sunday.
“We’re just going to play it one pitch at a time just like always,” Collins said. “I think it’s the same level of focus.”
MSU (20-8-1) has won its first three Southeastern Conference series and is one game ahead of Alabama atop the Western Division with a 6-3 record.
Five of MSU’s losses — two to Florida Atlantic in the opening weekend, UCLA, Eastern Kentucky, and Oral Roberts — have come in non-conference games, but MSU has rebounded from the last two mid-week setbacks to beat Mississippi Valley State and Southern Mississippi.
MSU will start freshman left-hander Konnor Pilkington (1-0, 1.17 ERA) tonight against freshman left-hander Adam Rimmer (0-0, 7.16), who will make his first career start for the Skyhawks (7-21).
The Bulldogs have struggled on the mound in SEC finales with three losses. Pilkington could be an option Sunday.
“I think for sure he throws an inning, but the question is if you want to use him for Sunday, it can only be an inning,” MSU coach John Cohen said. “You can’t extend him in the middle of the week. He needs to pitch, and the question is how much?”
Dakota Hudson and Austin Sexton pitched complete games in the first two games against Ole Miss last weekend, but MSU used six pitchers in Game 3, which means tonight’s game could be all about getting pitchers some innings.
“Hopefully they’ll come out and just throw it in the strike zone. That’s the biggest issue in the middle of the week,” Cohen said. “When you throw strikes, it moves everything along, it engages the defense and it allow you to be successful.”
The game will help MSU prepare for its three-game series against No. 1 Florida this weekend. Collins and the Bulldogs know they can’t overlook Tennessee-Martin, which is why they are upbeat about this week.
“Our confidence is through the roof,” Collins said.
n In other news, Hudson was named co-SEC Pitcher of the Week with Georgia’s Robert Tyler.
Hudson threw his first complete game and stuck out a career-high 11 Friday in a 3-1 victory against Ole Miss. The junior right-hander hasn’t allowed an earned run in 30 2/3 innings.
Hudson also was named one of nine Louisville Slugger National Players of the Week by Collegiate Baseball. He earned the same honor after his start against Vanderbilt.
n MSU is ranked in the top 10 of all six polls after going 3-1 last week.
The Bulldogs remained No. 5 in Baseball America’s poll, moved from No. 11 to No. 5 in D1Baseball.com’s poll, moved from No. 12 to No. 10 in the USA Today Coaches poll, and is ranked No. 8 by Collegiate Baseball, Perfect Game, and the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association. MSU dropped from No. 7 to No. 8 in Collegiate Baseball’s poll.
Follow Dispatch sports writer Ben Wait on Twitter @bcwait
Ben Wait reports on Mississippi State University sports for The Dispatch.
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