No. 4 Mississippi State Hosts Grambling State in Midweek Baseball Game

Mississippi State, ranked No. 4 in the nation, will host Grambling State on Tuesday at Dudy Noble Field. The game is scheduled to start at 6 p.m. and will be available on SEC Network +, according to the university’s athletic department.

The Bulldogs enter the game with a 24-4 record overall and a 7-2 mark in Southeastern Conference play. They are riding an eight-game winning streak and have won nine of their last 10 contests. Mississippi State has not lost at home this season, boasting a 17-0 record at Dudy Noble Field, a streak that dates back to late April last year, the school said.

MSU’s recent success is attributed to a balanced offensive attack. The team is batting .337 with 46 home runs and a .564 slugging percentage. The pitching staff has a 3.23 ERA and opponents are hitting just .208 against them, according to the athletic department.

Grambling State, with a 9-17 record and 6-3 in Southwestern Athletic Conference play, will attempt to upset the Bulldogs. However, the all-time series heavily favors MSU, which leads 5-0 and defeated Grambling State 21-2 in their last meeting in 2023 at Dudy Noble Field.

The Bulldogs are expected to start right-hander Chris Billingsley Jr., who is 1-0 with a 5.19 ERA across eight appearances this season. The junior has shown promise out of the bullpen and as a starter, including a perfect outing against Tulane and a scoreless two-inning stint versus Southern Miss last week, according to the university’s release.

Offensively, MSU is led by Bryce Chance, who is batting .435 and has struck out just three times all season. Other key contributors include Ace Reese, with eight home runs and 37 RBIs, as well as Noah Sullivan (.354, six homers) and Jacob Parker (.346, six homers). The team’s depth at the plate has been a hallmark of their recent success, the department noted.

Under first-year head coach Brian O’Connor, Mississippi State has quickly established itself as a national contender. The veteran coach has brought a strong transfer class and a cohesive roster to Starkville, with the team routinely playing in front of the largest crowds in college baseball. The program leads the nation in attendance, averaging 11,521 fans per game.

Fans can follow updates on the team through the university’s athletics website and social media channels under the handle ‘HailStateBB.’

Source: Original Article