STARKVILLE — The Mississippi State baseball team has earned its first national ranking of the season just in time for the first game of a six-game homestand at Dudy Noble Field.
Coming off a three-game sweep of Ole Miss last weekend in Oxford that extended the team’s winning streak to seven, MSU enters its game against Florida International at 6:30 tonight ranked No. 22 in the Baseball America poll.
MSU (19-10, 6-3 Southeastern Conference) also is ranked No. 19 in the Collegiate Baseball poll and No. 25 in the USA Today Coaches poll.
The Bulldogs had a team earned run average of 2.50 and held opposing batters to a .177 average. MSU averaged 10.25 hits per game on the week, and was led by Preseason All-American Brent Rooker, who was named SEC Player of the Week.
Rooker went 7-for-12 (.412) last week with five doubles, one triple, and one home run. He also had five RBIs and extended his career-best 14-game hit streak and a 16-game reached base streak.
Rooker is the first to win multiple SEC Player of the Week awards this season (Feb. 17). He leads the SEC in batting average (.422), slugging percentage (.890), on-base percentage (.511), RBIs (43), doubles (18), total bases (97), and stolen bases (14). He is second in hits (46) and home runs (nine).
His 18 doubles lead the nation, while his .890 slugging percentage ranks third and his.422 batting average is 12th in Division I baseball.
Tonight, MSU and FIU will meet for the first time. General admission tickets are $2. Hot dogs will also be available for $2 at concessions. Fans also can visit HailState.com/memories for unique fan experiences.
Tonight will be Harry Potter Night. Promotions will be related to the book and movie series.
MSU and FIU will meet again at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday. A free crawfish boil will be held Wednesday for MSU students.
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