STARKVILLE – For the first time since 2014, the Mississippi State baseball program will begin a season ranked among the top 10 nationally, as Collegiate Baseball Newspaper has tabbed the Bulldogs No. 6 in its preseason poll on Monday (Dec. 16).
The preseason No. 6 ranking is the highest for the program since being No. 2 in Collegiate Baseball’s preseason rankings in 2014. That season, MSU was a consensus top-10 team to start the season and advanced to the championship game of the NCAA Lafayette Regional.
Collegiate Baseball’s 2020 preseason poll has eight of MSU’s opponents ranked among the top 40, including five among the top 11 teams. Non-Conference opponents Oregon State (No. 32), Texas Tech (No. 3) and South Alabama (No. 23), along with Southeastern Conference foes Arkansas (No. 9), LSU (No. 11), Auburn (No. 9), Texas A&M (No. 21) and Vanderbilt (No. 2) are all among the teams ranked in the preseason.
After making its second-straight trip to the College World Series, grabbing a share of the SEC West Division crown and boasting a 52-15 overall record in 2019, MSU returns an experienced nucleus at the plate in juniors Tanner Allen, Justin Foscue, Rowdey Jordan and Jordan Westburg. The pitching staff returns a host of young and talented arms, led by 2019 National Freshman of the Year JT Ginn.
Head coach Chris Lemonis enters his second season after posting the most victories (52) by a first-year SEC head coach in the conference’s history and becoming just the third SEC first-year dugout boss to guide a team to Omaha. State finished the 2019 campaign ranked among the top five in each of the major national polls.
The Bulldogs open the 2020 season with a three-game series at Dudy Noble Field against Horizon League champion Wright State from Feb. 14-16. The season opener is slated for 4 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 14. The series continues with a 2 p.m. start on Saturday, Feb. 15 and 1 p.m. first pitch on Sunday, Feb. 16.
Ticket Information
While reserved seating season tickets are sold out for the 34th straight season, general admission/standing room only season tickets are available for a cost of $199.
New for the 2020 season, the Mobile Access Pass will provide access to unused chairback seats at Dudy Noble Field. The Mobile Access Pass provides a GA/SRO ticket for all games on the 2020 home schedule, while also offering upgraded access on a game-by-game basis to the unused chairback seats for all home weekend series – excluding Super Bulldog Weekend. The cost for the Mobile Access Pass is $225.
