STARKVILLE — Mississippi State released its 2021 baseball schedule Tuesday afternoon.
As part of the Bulldogs’ 55-game slate, MSU will play 35 home games, 16 road contests and four neutral site matchups. Third-year head coach Chris Lemonis and his squad will open the season on Feb. 19-21 at Globe Life Park — home of the Texas Rangers — in a three day tournament. Opponents and game times have yet to be announced for the event.
MSU will begin SEC play March 19-21 against LSU at Alex Box Stadium in Baton Rouge. Other conference opponents this year include Arkansas (March 26-28), Kentucky (April 1-3), at Auburn (April 9-11), Ole Miss (April 16-18), at Vanderbilt (April 23-25), Texas A&M (April 30-May 2), at South Carolina (May 7-9), Missouri (May 14-16) and at Alabama (May 20-22).
The Bulldogs’ annual meetings with Ole Miss will look slightly different this spring as the yearly Governor’s Cup game held in Pearl has been canceled for this year. MSU and Ole Miss released a joint statement on the cancelation Tuesday:
“Due to scheduling and logistical challenges related to the COVID-19 pandemic, Ole Miss and Mississippi State have agreed that the Governor’s Cup game in Pearl will not be played this year. While we are disappointed for our loyal fans in the Jackson area, we look forward to seeing our storied rivalry renewed during the scheduled three-game series April 16-18.”
MSU’s 2021 slate will include games against at least six teams ranked in the D1Baseball preseason top 25 poll. Of those teams, three (No. 4 Vanderbilt, No. 6 Ole Miss and No. 8 Arkansas) rank in the top 10. The Bulldogs were ranked No. 7 in the poll.
MSU finished the COVID-19-shortened 2020 campaign 12-4 and ranked No. 17 in the nation by D1Baseball — including a sweep of then No. 4 Texas Tech in Biloxi.
MSU 2021 schedule
Non-conference
Feb. 19-21 @ Globe Life Park (Arlington, TX), opponents TBD
Feb. 23-24 vs. Jackson State
Feb. 26-28 vs. Tulane
March 2 vs. Southern Miss in Pearl
March 5-7 vs. Tennessee Tech
March 9 vs. Grambling
March 10 vs. Louisiana
March 12-14 vs. Eastern Michigan
March 16 vs. Samford
March 23 vs. UT Martin
March 30 vs. MVSU
April 13 vs. Arkansas State
April 20 vs. UAB
May 18 vs. Jacksonville State
SEC Play
March 19-21 @ LSU
March 26-28 vs. Arkansas
April 1-3 vs. Kentucky
April 9-11 @ Auburn
April 16-18 vs. Ole Miss
April 23-25 @ Vanderbilt
April 30-May 2 vs. Texas A&M
May 7-9 @ South Carolina
May 14-16 vs. Missouri
May 20-22 @ Alabama
Ben Portnoy reports on Mississippi State sports for The Dispatch. Follow him on Twitter at @bportnoy15.
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