No. 4 Mississippi State opens series against Lipscomb at Dudy Noble
Mississippi State, ranked No. 4 nationally, begins a three-game series against Lipscomb on Thursday at Dudy Noble Field in Starkville. The series opener is scheduled for 6 p.m., with the remaining two games still to be scheduled due to potential weather disruptions, according to the university.
The Bulldogs are coming off back-to-back one-run losses to top-10 opponents. They fell 8-7 in 10 innings to No. 1 UCLA on Sunday and lost 7-6 at No. 10 Southern Miss on Tuesday, sources said. All three games will be streamed on SEC Network+.
MSU boasts a perfect 9-0 home record this season, including three run-rule victories. Sophomore pitcher Ryan McPherson is slated to start Thursday. He has a 2-0 record with a 2.12 ERA, 20 strikeouts and four walks in 17 innings, according to team stats.
The Bulldogs are expected to start southpaw Tomas Valincius and right-hander Duke Stone during the series, though the schedule may affect which pitcher starts each game. Lipscomb plans to counter with senior lefty Alexander Llinas and either graduate right-hander Collin Bosley-Smith or freshman Jackson Lee, the team said.
Mississippi State enters the series batting .343 as a team, with 18 home runs and an average of 9.9 runs per game. They rank third nationally with 39 doubles and have stolen 21 bases in 28 attempts, according to team statistics. The Bulldogs also boast a .982 fielding percentage.
Reed Stallman leads the team offensively, hitting .692 over his last five games with 11 RBIs and a 2.108 OPS. The graduate first baseman is hitting .452 for the season. All-American third baseman Ace Reese leads in doubles, homers, and RBIs. Outfielder Bryce Chance has stolen five bases in six attempts.
On the mound, MSU’s pitching staff maintains a 3.86 ERA with 149 strikeouts and 42 walks over 112 innings. Opponents are hitting .216 against the Bulldogs, who average one home run per game. McPherson and Valincius are tied for the team lead in strikeouts.
Lipscomb stands at 6-5 after splitting a four-game series with Toledo. The Bison won the last two games of that series. The team hits .316 with four home runs and averages 7.1 runs per game. They have stolen 24 bases in 32 attempts and hold a .979 fielding percentage, sources reported.
Top bat for Lipscomb is designated hitter Blake Carter, batting .480. First baseman Damion Kenealy Jr. has driven in 11 RBIs. The Bison’s pitchers have a 5.73 ERA with 95 strikeouts and 53 walks in 99 innings. Opponents are hitting .266 with 10 home runs against them, according to team stats.
MSU leads the all-time series 9-0, including a three-game sweep at Dudy Noble Field last year where they outscored Lipscomb 24-9. The series continues as scheduled, with fans able to follow via live streams and updates on the university’s athletics website.
Source: Original Article
