American college baseball season
The 2018 Mississippi State Bulldogs baseball team represented the Mississippi State University in the 2018 NCAA Division I baseball season . The Bulldogs played their home games at Dudy Noble Field . Due to construction of the new Dudy Noble Field, the first home game was not played until March 6, to give construction crews time to finish the bottom seating of the stadium. The new Dudy Noble Field in its entirety was not completed until the 2019 season.
2018 Mississippi State Bulldogs coaching staff
Andy Cannizaro – Head Coach (first 3 games) – 2nd year
Gary Henderson – Pitching Coach – 2nd year; Interim Head Coach (starting game 4)
Jake Gautreau – Assistant Coach – 1st year
Mike Brown – Coordinator of Camps/Volunteer Assistant – 2nd year
A.J. Gaura – Coordinator of Baseball Player Development – 1st year
Trevor Fitts – Coordinator of Baseball Operations – 1st year
Justin Aguiar – Coordinator of Video & Analytics - 1st year
Schedule and results [ edit ]
2018 Mississippi State Bulldogs baseball game log
Regular season (31–24)
February (3–5)
Date
Opponent
Rank
Site/stadium
Score
Win
Loss
Save
TV
Attendance
Overall record
SEC record
Feb. 16
at #25 Southern Miss
#13
Pete Taylor Park • Hattiesburg, MS
L 0–11
Nick Sandlin (1–0)
Konnor Pilkington (0–1)
none
4,948
0–1
–
Feb. 17
at #25 Southern Miss
#13
Pete Taylor Park • Hattiesburg, MS
L 4–7
Jarod Wright (1–0)
Ethan Small (0–1)
none
4,988
0–2
–
Feb. 18
at #25 Southern Miss
#13
Pete Taylor Park • Hattiesburg, MS
L 2–5
Jacob Weirich (1–0)
Zach Neff (0–1)
Matt Wallner (1)
4,970
0–3
–
Feb. 21
at Jackson State
Braddy Field • Jackson, MS
W 12–1
JP France (1–0)
Mark Watson (0–1)
none
347
1–3
–
Feb. 23
vs. UC Santa Barbara Kleberg Bank College Classic
Whataburger Field • Corpus Christi, TX
W 7–4
Konnor Pilkington (1–1)
Jack Dashwood (0–1)
Blake Smith (1)
1,761
2–3
–
Feb. 24
vs. Nicholls State Kleberg Bank College Classic
Whataburger Field • Corpus Christi, TX
W 14–4
Ethan Small (1–1)
Parker White (0–1)
Denver McQuary (1)
1,134
3–3
–
Feb. 25
at Texas A&M–Corpus Christi Kleberg Bank College Classic
Whataburger Field • Corpus Christi, TX
L 3–6
Chad Romere (1–0)
Zach Neff (0–2)
Chris Cooper (2)
1,898
3–4
–
Feb. 26
at Texas Rio Grande Valley
UTRGV Baseball Stadium • Edinburg, TX
Canceled in bottom 4th, heavy fog
Feb. 28
at McNeese State
Cowboy Diamond • Lake Charles, LA
L 3–6
Tyler Wesley (1–1)
Keegan James (0–1)
Grant Anderson (1)
1,843
3–5
–
March (11–10)
Date
Opponent
Rank
Site/stadium
Score
Win
Loss
Save
TV
Attendance
Overall record
SEC record
Mar. 2
vs. Louisiana Shriners College Classic
Minute Maid Park • Houston, TX
W 3–1
Cole Gordon (1–0)
Brock Batty (2–1)
none
4,972
4–5
–
Mar. 3
vs. Houston Shriners College Classic
Minute Maid Park • Houston, TX
W 3–2 12
Blake Smith (1–0)
Brayson Hurdsman (0–1)
none
6,796
5–5
–
Mar. 4
vs. Sam Houston State Shriners College Classic
Minute Maid Park • Houston, TX
W 4–1
Jacob Billingsley (1–0)
Seth Ballew (0–1)
Cole Gordon (1)
5,414
6–5
–
Mar. 6
New Mexico State
Dudy Noble Field • Starkville, MS
W 9–1
Cole Marsh (1–0)
Brock Whittlesey (1–3)
Denver McQuary (2)
SECN+
7,179
7–5
–
Mar. 7
New Mexico State
Dudy Noble Field • Starkville, MS
W 6–0
Zach Neff (1–2)
Alex Pinedo (0–1)
none
SECN+
5,117
8–5
–
Mar. 9
Utah Valley (DH-1)
Dudy Noble Field • Starkville, MS
L 1–2 11
Fabian Palacios (1–0)
Cole Gordon (1–1)
Drew Hill (3)
SECN+
5,468
8–6
–
Mar. 9
Utah Valley (DH-2)
Dudy Noble Field • Starkville, MS
W 4–2
Keegan James (1–1)
Ondrej Sebek (0–1)
Blake Smith (2)
SECN+
5,468
9–6
–
Mar. 10
Utah Valley
Dudy Noble Field • Starkville, MS
Moved to 3/9, impending weather
Mar. 11
Utah Valley
Dudy Noble Field • Starkville, MS
W 5–3
Jacob Billingsley (2–0)
Walker Ramsey (1–3)
JP France (1)
SECN+
4,727
10–6
–
Mar. 14
vs. Southeastern Louisiana
MGM Park • Biloxi, MS
L 5–11
Corey Gaconi (1–0)
Keegan James (1–2)
none
3,318
10–7
–
Mar. 16
#11 Vanderbilt
Dudy Noble Field • Starkville, MS
L 0–5
Drake Fellows (3–0)
Konnor Pilkington (1–2)
Zach King (1)
SECN
4,860
10–8
0–1
Mar. 17
#11 Vanderbilt
Dudy Noble Field • Starkville, MS
L 1–10
Patrick Raby (2–2)
Ethan Small (1–2)
none
SECN+
6,218
10–9
0–2
Mar. 18
#11 Vanderbilt
Dudy Noble Field • Starkville, MS
L 3–4
Mason Hickman (4–0)
Jacob Billingsley (2–1)
Tyler Brown (2)
SECN+
4,569
10–10
0–3
Mar. 20
Alcorn State
Dudy Noble Field • Starkville, MS
W 17–1
Zach Neff (2–2)
Regynold Johnson (0–1)
none
SECN+
4,295
11–10
–
Mar. 21
Texas Southern
Dudy Noble Field • Starkville, MS
W 11–6
Cole Gordon (2–1)
Peyton Schneider (0–5)
none
SECN+
4,713
12–10
–
Mar. 23
at #25 Missouri
Taylor Stadium • Columbia, MO
L 1–4
T. J. Sikkema (2–0)
Konnor Pilkington (1–3)
Andy Toelken (1)
SECN+
406
12–11
0–4
Mar. 24
at #25 Missouri
Taylor Stadium • Columbia, MO
W 3–1 15
Blake Smith (2–0)
Tyler LaPlante (3–1)
none
SECN+
406
13–11
1–4
Mar. 25
at #25 Missouri
Taylor Stadium • Columbia, MO
L 4–5 11
Andy Toelken (3–2)
JP France (1–1)
none
SECN+
496
13–12
1–5
Mar. 27
at Nicholls State
Ray E. Didier Field • Thibodaux, LA
L 4–7
Bryan Taylor (2–3)
Denver McQuary (0–1)
none
674
13–13
–
Mar. 29
at #19 LSU
Alex Box Stadium, Skip Bertman Field • Baton Rouge, LA
L 1–10
Zack Hess (4–3)
Konnor Pilkington (1–4)
none
SECN
10,532
13–14
1–6
Mar. 30
at #19 LSU
Alex Box Stadium, Skip Bertman Field • Baton Rouge, LA
W 4–1
Ethan Small (2–2)
Caleb Gilbert (3–2)
Cole Gordon (2)
SECN+
11,132
14–14
2–6
Mar. 31
at #19 LSU
Alex Box Stadium, Skip Bertman Field • Baton Rouge, LA
L 0–4
Ma'Khail Hilliard (6–1)
Jacob Billingsley (2–2)
Nick Bush (1)
SECN+
11,133
14–15
2–7
April (10–6)
Date
Opponent
Rank
Site/stadium
Score
Win
Loss
Save
TV
Attendance
Overall record
SEC record
April 4
Southern
Dudy Noble Field • Starkville, MS
W 5–0
Riley Self (1–0)
John Guienze (0–2)
none
SECN+
4,886
15–15
–
April 6
#5 Ole Miss
Dudy Noble Field • Starkville, MS
Postponed to 4/7, inclement weather
April 7
#5 Ole Miss (DH-1)
Dudy Noble Field • Starkville, MS
W 13–3
Konnor Pilkington (2–4)
Brady Feigl (6–2)
none
SECN+
6,168
16–15
3–7
April 7
#5 Ole Miss (DH-2)
Dudy Noble Field • Starkville, MS
L 1–6
Ryan Rolison (4–3)
Ethan Small (2–3)
none
SECN+
6,168
16–16
3–8
April 8
#5 Ole Miss
Dudy Noble Field • Starkville, MS
W 7–5 11
Blake Smith (3–0)
Will Stokes (1–1)
none
SECN+
6,059
17–16
4–8
April 11
at Alabama State
Wheeler–Watkins Baseball Complex • Montgomery, AL
W 15–4
Denver McQuary (1–1)
Ivanniel Vazquez (1–4)
none
1,502
18–16
–
April 13
at Auburn
Plainsman Park • Auburn, AL
L 1–2
Casey Mize (7–1)
Konnor Pilkington (2–5)
none
SECN
3,831
18–17
4–9
April 14
at Auburn
Plainsman Park • Auburn, AL
W 7–2
Ethan Small (3–3)
Davis Daniel (2–3)
none
SECN+
4,045
19–17
5–9
April 15
at Auburn
Plainsman Park • Auburn, AL
L 5–7
Cody Greenhill (2–1)
Cole Gordon (2–2)
none
SECN+
2,904
19–18
5–10
April 18
vs. Memphis
AutoZone Park • Memphis, TN
L 1–6
Connor Alexander (2–2)
Denver McQuary (1–2)
Hunter Smith (2)
3,027
19–19
–
April 20
#6 Arkansas Super Bulldog Weekend
Dudy Noble Field • Starkville, MS
W 6–5
JP France (2–1)
Matt Cronin (2–1)
none
SECN+
7,303
20–19
6–10
April 21
#6 Arkansas (DH-1) Super Bulldog Weekend
Dudy Noble Field • Starkville, MS
W 5–3
Ethan Small (4–3)
Kacey Murphy (5–3)
Blake Smith (3)
SECN+
10,147
21–19
7–10
April 21
#6 Arkansas (DH-2) Super Bulldog Weekend
Dudy Noble Field • Starkville, MS
W 7–5
Jacob Billingsley (3–2)
Isaiah Campbell (3–4)
Zach Neff (1)
SECN+
10,147
22–19
8–10
April 22
#6 Arkansas Super Bulldog Weekend
Dudy Noble Field • Starkville, MS
Moved to 4/21, impending weather
April 24
vs. #8 Ole Miss Governor's Cup
Trustmark Park • Pearl, MS
W 7–6
Cole Gordon (3–2)
Parker Caracci (2–2)
none
SECN
8,515
23–19
–
April 27
#22 Texas A&M
Dudy Noble Field • Starkville, MS
L 3–6
Kaylor Chafin (3–0)
JP France (2–2)
Nolan Hoffman (8)
SECN+
5,784
23–20
8–11
April 28
#22 Texas A&M
Dudy Noble Field • Starkville, MS
W 11–6
Ethan Small (5–3)
John Doxakis (6–2)
Zach Neff (2)
SECN+
7,017
24–20
9–11
April 29
#22 Texas A&M
Dudy Noble Field • Starkville, MS
L 4–7
Stephen Kolek (4–4)
Jacob Billingsley (3–3)
Nolan Hoffman (9)
SECN
5,555
24–21
9–12
May (7–3)
Date
Opponent
Rank
Site/stadium
Score
Win
Loss
Save
TV
Attendance
Overall record
SEC record
May 4
at Alabama
Sewell–Thomas Stadium • Tuscaloosa, AL
W 14–12 10
Zach Neff (3–2)
Deacon Medders (0–3)
none
SECN+
3,411
25–21
10–12
May 5
at Alabama
Sewell–Thomas Stadium • Tuscaloosa, AL
L 3–4 10
Sam Gardner (2–2)
Cole Gordon (3–3)
none
SECN+
4,631
25–22
10–13
May 6
at Alabama
Sewell–Thomas Stadium • Tuscaloosa, AL
W 6–4
JP France (3–2)
Kyle Cameron (1–2)
none
ESPNU
4,637
26–22
11–13
May 9
vs. Troy
Hoover Metropolitan Stadium • Hoover, AL
W 9–8 10
Riley Self (2–0)
CJ Carter (6–4)
none
2,562
27–22
–
May 11
at Kentucky
Cliff Hagan Stadium • Lexington, KY
L 6–9
Sean Hjelle (7–4)
Konnor Pilkington (2–6)
Chris Machamer (10)
ESPNU
4,303
27–23
11–14
May 12
at Kentucky
Cliff Hagan Stadium • Lexington, KY
L 1–4
Jimmy Ramsey (3–1)
JP France (3–3)
none
SECN
4,416
27–24
11–15
May 13
at Kentucky
Cliff Hagan Stadium • Lexington, KY
W 18–8
Jacob Billingsley (4–3)
Brad Schaenzer (1–2)
none
SECN
4,096
28–24
12–15
May 17
#1 Florida
Dudy Noble Field • Starkville, MS
W 6–3
Riley Self (3–0)
Michael Byrne (2–1)
none
SECN+
5,100
29–24
13–15
May 18
#1 Florida
Dudy Noble Field • Starkville, MS
W 12–4
JP France (4–3)
Jack Leftwich (4–4)
none
ESPNU
5,901
30–24
14–15
May 19
#1 Florida
Dudy Noble Field • Starkville, MS
W 13–6
Blake Smith (1–0)
Jackson Kowar (9–3)
Cole Gordon (3)
ESPNU
6,291
31–24
15–15
Post-season (8–5)
NCAA Tallahassee Regional (4–1)
Date
Opponent
Seed/Rank
Site/stadium
Score
Win
Loss
Save
TV
Attendance
Overall record
NCAAT record
June 1
vs. (3) Oklahoma
(2)
Dick Howser Stadium • Tallahassee, FL
L 10–20
Kyle Tyler (6–2)
JP France (4–5)
none
ESPNU
3,238
31–26
0–1
June 2
at (1) #15 Florida State
(2)
Dick Howser Stadium • Tallahassee, FL
W 3–2
Riley Self (4–0)
Drew Parrish (5–1)
none
ESPN2
3,319
32–26
1–1
June 3
vs. (4) Samford (DH-1)
(2)
Dick Howser Stadium • Tallahassee, FL
W 9–8
Jacob Billingsley (5–3)
Wyatt Burns (5–4)
JP France (2)
ESPN2
3,196
33–26
2–1
June 3
vs. (3) Oklahoma (DH-2)
(2)
Dick Howser Stadium • Tallahassee, FL
W 13–5
Cole Gordon (4–3)
Devon Perez (5–6)
none
ESPNU
3,109
34–26
3–1
June 4
vs. (3) Oklahoma
(2)
Dick Howser Stadium • Tallahassee, FL
W 8–1
JP France (5–5)
Levi Prater (3–4)
Riley Self (1)
ESPN2
3,103
35–26
4–1
NCAA Nashville Super Regional (2–1)
Date
Opponent
Rank
Site/stadium
Score
Win
Loss
Save
TV
Attendance
Overall record
NCAAT record
June 8
at #15 Vanderbilt
#16
Hawkins Field • Nashville, TN
W 10–8
Riley Self (5–0)
Zach King (1–4)
none
ESPN2
3,626
36–26
5–1
June 9
at #15 Vanderbilt
#16
Hawkins Field • Nashville, TN
L 3–4
Chandler Day (2–1)
Zach Neff (3–3)
none
ESPN
3,626
36–27
5–2
June 10
at #15 Vanderbilt
#16
Hawkins Field • Nashville, TN
W 10–6 11
Denver McQuary (2–2)
Tyler Brown (1–5)
none
ESPN2
3,626
37–27
6–2
College World Series (2–2)
Date
Opponent
Rank
Site/stadium
Score
Win
Loss
Save
TV
Attendance
Overall record
CWS record
June 16
vs. #7 Washington
#8
TD Ameritrade Park • Omaha, NE
W 1–0
Zach Neff (4–3 )
Alex Hardy (5–3)
none
ESPN
24,758
38–27
1–0
June 18
vs. (6) #3 North Carolina
#8
TD Ameritrade Park • Omaha, NE
Postponed to 6/19, inclement weather
June 19
vs. (6) #3 North Carolina
#8
TD Ameritrade Park • Omaha, NE
W 12–2
Konnor Pilkington (3–6)
Austin Bergner (7–3)
Cole Gordon (4)
ESPN2
13,387
39–27
2–0
June 22
vs. (3) #1 Oregon State
#8
TD Ameritrade Park • Omaha, NE
L 2–12
Brandon Eisert (5–3)
Jacob Billingsley (5–4)
none
ESPN
21,002
39–28
2–1
June 23
vs. (3) #1 Oregon State
#8
TD Ameritrade Park • Omaha, NE
L 2–5
Kevin Abel (6–1)
Ethan Small (5–4)
none
ESPN
21,821
39–29
2–2
† Indicates the game does not count toward the 2018 Southeastern Conference standings .
*Rankings are based on the team's current ranking in the Collegiate Baseball poll.
Record vs. conference opponents [ edit ]
Last two do not qualify for conf. tourn. Blank are not scheduled. Blue are home games, otherwise away.
Source: 2018 SEC baseball game results
Team
ALA
ARK
AUB
FLA
UGA
KEN
LSU
MSU
MIZZ
MISS
SCAR
TENN
TAMU
VAN
Team
Div
SR
ALA
8–22
0–3
0–3
.
1–2
2–1
1–2
1–2
2–1
1–2
.
0–3
0–3
.
ALA
W7
2–8
0–4
ARK
18–12
3–0
3–0
1–2
1–2
3–0
1–2
0–3
.
1–2
2–1
.
3–0
.
ARK
W2
5–5
4–1
AUB
15–15
3–0
0–3
1–2
.
1–2
2–1
2–1
1–2
0–3
.
.
2–1
3–0
AUB
W3
5–5
2–2
FLA
20–10
.
2–1
2–1
2–1
2–1
.
0–3
3–0
.
2–1
2–1
2–1
3–0
FLA
E1
9–1
2–1
UGA
18–12
2–1
2–1
.
1–2
1–2
.
.
3–0
1–2
3–0
2–1
2–1
1–2
UGA
E2
6–4
2–0
KEN
13–17
1–2
0–3
2–1
1–2
2–1
.
2–1
2–1
.
2–1
1–2
.
0–3
KEN
E5
5–5
0–2
LSU
15–15
2–1
2–1
1–2
.
.
.
2–1
2–1
1–2
0–3
3–0
1–2
1–2
LSU
W4
5–5
1–1
MSU
15–15
2–1
3–0
1–2
3–0
.
1–2
1–2
1–2
2–1
.
.
1–2
0–3
MSU
W5
4–6
2–1
MIZZ
12–18
1–2
.
2–1
0–3
0–3
1–2
1–2
2–1
.
1–2
2–1
.
2–1
MIZZ
E6
4–6
0–2
MISS
18–12
2–1
2–1
3–0
.
2–1
.
2–1
1–2
.
1–2
2–1
2–1
1–2
MISS
W1
7–3
1–0
SCAR
17–13
.
1–2
.
1–2
0–3
1–2
3–0
.
2–1
2–1
3–0
2–1
2–1
SCAR
E3
6–4
2–1
TENN
12–18
3–0
.
.
1–2
1–2
2–1
0–3
.
1–2
1–2
0–3
2–1
1–2
TENN
E7
3–7
1–2
TAMU
13–17
3–0
0–3
1–2
1–2
1–2
.
2–1
2–1
.
1–2
1–2
1–2
.
TAMU
W6
3–7
1–1
VAN
16–14
.
.
0–3
0–3
2–1
3–0
2–1
3–0
1–2
2–1
1–2
2–1
.
VAN
E4
6–4
2–2
Team
W–L
ALA
ARK
AUB
FLA
UGA
KEN
LSU
MSU
MIZZ
MISS
SCAR
TENN
TAMU
VAN
Team
Div
SR
SW
Updated for entire regular season.
Ranking movementsLegend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking — = Not ranked RV = Received votes Week Poll Pre 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 Final Coaches' [ 1] 15 15* 15* RV RV — — — — — — — — RV RV RV* RV* 6 Baseball America [ 2] — — — — — — — — — — — — — 25 — —* —* 6 Collegiate Baseball ^[ 3] 13 — — — — — — — — — — — — — — 16 8 4 NCBWA †[ 4] 17 25 27 26 21 RV RV — — RV — RV — 28 RV 16 16* 4
^ Collegiate Baseball ranked 40 teams in their preseason poll, but only ranked 30 teams weekly during the season.† NCBWA ranks 35 teams in their preseason poll, but only ranks 30 teams weekly during the season.* A new poll was not released for this week, so for comparison purposes, the previous week's ranking is inserted in this week's slot.
[ 5]
†Small, a redshirt sophomore, returns to MSU for the next season.[ 6]
‡Mangum, a junior, returns to MSU for the next season. Although Mangum had almost exclusively played CF in college and pitched very little, he was drafted as a pitcher.[ 7]
Mississippi State is ranked 8th by Perfect Game for its 2018 recruiting class, in spite of having two players, Carter Stewart and J. T. Ginn , both RHPs, go in the 1st round of the MLB draft and two more, Eric Cerantola and Sam Knowlton, both also RHPs, go in the 33rd and 39th, who did not sign to play professionally after this draft, although there is some speculation that Stewart may go JUCO instead. Stewart does go JUCO and after all teams have defections due to major league signings, Mississippi State is ranked 6th.[ 6] [ 8] [ 9] Perfect Game only covers commitments out of high school. There is also a JUCO player, Gunner Halter, SS, taken in the 26th round who plans to play for Mississippi State.[ 10] There are also two high schoolers that were not drafted, probably due to difficulty of being signed, who were projected as top 10 rounders, Hayden Jones, C, and Christian McLeod, LHP.[ 9] [ 11] [ 12] In addition to the four RHPs, C, LHP, and JUCO SS mentioned above, high school players also include three OFs, a RHP, two SSs, and a C.[ 9]
^ "USA Today Coaches' Poll" . Archived from the original on July 10, 2017. Retrieved April 5, 2018 .
^ Baseball America Poll
^ "2018 Collegiate Baseball Polls - Collegiate Baseball Newspaper" .
^ "NCBWA > News" .
^ "Mississippi State Baseball Has Seven Players Drafted In 2018 MLB Draft" . FanSided Inc. June 2018. Retrieved June 28, 2018 .
^ a b "MSU signee, MLB first-round pick Stewart doesn't sign with Braves" . Starkville Daily News. July 6, 2018. Archived from the original on July 7, 2018. Retrieved July 7, 2017 .
^ "Jake Mangum Announces He's Returning To Mississippi State Baseball" . FanSided Inc. June 2018. Retrieved June 28, 2017 .
^ "College Recruit Rankings Class of 2018" . Perfect Game. 2018. Retrieved July 7, 2017 .
^ a b c "Mississippi State's HS Recruits Class of 2018" . Perfect Game. 2018. Retrieved July 7, 2017 .
^ "Halter chooses MSU over professional path" . Starkville Daily News. July 3, 2018. Archived from the original on July 4, 2018. Retrieved July 7, 2017 .
^ "2018 MSU Baseball Signee Hayden Jones Update" . CBS INTERACTIVE. May 23, 2018. Retrieved July 7, 2017 .
^ "LHP Christian MacLeod Primed for Immediate Impact at MSU" . CBS INTERACTIVE. July 1, 2018. Retrieved July 7, 2017 .
Venues Rivalries Culture & lore People Seasons National Championships in Bold; College World Series appearances in italics