Cowbell Corner

How to Watch: Mississippi State at Missouri

The Bulldogs head to Missouri for its final SEC series of the season against a Tigers team that shocked the college baseball world last weekend.
Taylor Hodges|
Mississippi State Interim Head Coach Justin Parker during the game between the Ole Miss Rebels and the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Dudy Noble Field at Polk-Dement Stadium in Starkville, MS.
Mississippi State Interim Head Coach Justin Parker during the game between the Ole Miss Rebels and the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Dudy Noble Field at Polk-Dement Stadium in Starkville, MS. | Mississippi State Athletics

What happened last weekend in College Station, Texas should absolutely give Mississippi State pause for concern. But there’s no need to have a hand near the panic button.

Missouri’s sweep of Texas A&M was surprising. By now, you’re probably aware the Tigers were winless in SEC games until then. While the Bulldogs and Aggies may look similar (the colors are nearly identical), they’re not as similar on the field.

The Tigers had the highest team ERA in the SEC and still do, but it got below 9.00 after they held Texas A&M to four hits and two runs in the final two games of the series. The Aggies have the lowest team batting average in the SEC (.265) and that’s the major difference between them and Mississippi State.

The Bulldogs have the fifth-highest team batting average in the SEC (.302), the highest average with runners on base (.337) and second-highest average with runners in scoring position (.336).

Mississippi State is good at the plate and Texas A&M, with all due respect to Jace Laviolette who is one of the sport’s best MLB prospects, is not. The Bulldogs shouldn’t have much trouble going up against a Missouri pitching staff that has just two pitchers with ERAs under 5.00 and they’ve thrown a combined 7.1 innings this season.

Texas A&M may have similar thoughts before last weekend, too. Mississippi State interim coach Justin Parker won’t let his team overlook the Tigers.

“They have a very unique setup and at times I feel like it’s one of the best home field advantages in the league because it’s so unique,” Parker said after beating Ole Miss 6-5. “They’ll have our full attention. We have incredible respect for everybody in this league because it’s so hard to get wins.”

How to Watch: Mississippi State at Missouri

Who: Mississippi State Bulldogs (31-20, 12-15 SEC) at Missouri Tigers (16-35, 3-24 SEC)

When: 6 p.m., Thursday; 6 p.m., Friday; 2 p.m., Saturday

Where: Taylor Stadium, Columbia, Mo.

TV: SECN+ (All games)

Radio: Live Radio

Stats: Live Stats

Series: Mississippi State leads 13-7

Last Meeting: Missouri 4, Mississippi State 3 (May 18, 2024)

Last time out, Bulldogs: def. Ole Miss, 6-5

Last time out, Tigers: def. Texas A&M, 10-1

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Taylor Hodges
TAYLOR HODGES

Award-winning sports editor, writer, columnist, and photographer with 15 years’ experience offering his opinion and insight about the sports world in Mississippi and Texas, but he was taken to Razorback pep rallies at Billy Bob's Texas in Fort Worth before he could walk. Taylor has covered all levels of sports, from small high schools in the Mississippi Delta to NFL games. Follow Taylor on Twitter and Facebook.

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