Mississippi
Five numbers that explain why Mississippi State baseball missed NCAA tournament – The Dispatch
![Five numbers that explain why Mississippi State baseball missed NCAA tournament – The Dispatch Five numbers that explain why Mississippi State baseball missed NCAA tournament – The Dispatch](https://cdispatch.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/MSUBase0602.jpg)
A uncommon NCAA match with out the Mississippi State baseball staff is about to start Friday.
The Bulldogs (26-30, 9-21 Southeastern Convention) missed out on postseason play for the primary time since 2015, failing to make — and even get all that shut — to an NCAA regional.
MSU’s struggles started firstly of the 2022 marketing campaign because the Bulldogs tried to defend their 2021 School World Sequence title. Accidents, an absence of pitching depth and a dearth of clutch hitting ultimately took their toll.
Mississippi State was swept in its closing three SEC collection, posting its worst convention report since an 8-22 mark in 2015. The Bulldogs missed the match for simply the second time since 2011.
Listed here are 5 numbers that present why MSU is sitting at dwelling as regional play begins.
6.07: Workforce earned run common
Mississippi State’s pitching struggled significantly in 2022, posting a 6.07 ERA as a unit.
That mark ranked one hundred and ninetieth nationally amongst 293 Division I groups and lifeless final within the SEC. Within the convention, Georgia’s 5.73 ERA was second-to-last.
A 27-run blow-up towards No. 1 general seed Tennessee on Might 20 skewed the Bulldogs’ numbers, however their pitching was nonetheless poor for a lot of the 12 months.
Lengthy Seashore State scored 13 runs at Dudy Noble Area within the opening collection. Georgia scored 11 and 12 within the first two SEC video games. Missouri averaged 10 runs per sport in a collection win over the Bulldogs in Columbia.
Two pitchers who wound up as starters completed the 12 months with ERAs over 5. Preston Johnson had a 5.47 mark, and Brandon Smith ended up with a 5.88 ERA. Cade Smith completed the season at 3.86.
The Bulldogs’ bullpen was even worse. Parker Stinnett, KC Hunt and Jackson Fristoe all posted ERAs over 6; 4 different MSU relievers mixed for a ten.27 ERA in 75 1/3 innings.
8: Wins towards NCAA match groups
In 2022, the Bulldogs posted simply an 8-21 report towards groups that certified for the sphere of 64.
Mississippi State performed rather less than half its schedule towards match groups, together with eight of 10 SEC opponents. 4 of these eight — LSU, Florida, A&M and Tennessee — swept the Bulldogs.
State received only one season collection towards a postseason-bound membership, taking two out of three from Auburn in April at Dudy Noble Area. The Bulldogs received a street collection at Ole Miss the next weekend however misplaced the following Governor’s Cup sport in Pearl for a season cut up with the Rebels.
The Bulldogs went a mixed 6-19 towards tournament-bound SEC groups.
In nonconference play, Mississippi State confronted three groups that made an NCAA regional. MSU misplaced to Southern Miss in Pearl, cut up two video games with Texas Tech in Biloxi and beat Binghamton handily at dwelling.
Total, the Bulldogs’ poor report towards high groups is a key purpose why MSU missed out.
9: Losses in one-run video games
Mississippi State went 7-9 in one-run video games in 2022, a statistic which by itself appears pretty respectable.
However in contrast with the Bulldogs’ penchant for profitable shut contests in 2021, it’s simple to see the place MSU got here up quick.
The primary nationwide title-winning staff at school historical past went a exceptional 12-3 in one-run video games, together with three such victories in School World Sequence bracket play.
The 2022 Bulldogs, although, couldn’t maintain that success.
Mississippi State struggled in shut video games from the beginning, shedding twice by one run at Tulane and by the identical margin at Georgia. MSU misplaced one-run video games to Auburn, LSU and Missouri.
Moreover, a number of video games — together with contests towards Florida and at Texas A&M — have been shut for seven or eight innings however ended up being determined by a number of runs.
These video games have been simply extra proof of the Bulldogs’ lack of ability to complete, and it value them in 2022.
20: Innings pitched by Landon Sims and Stone Simmons
MSU’s pitching employees was hampered by harm all season.
And no losses have been greater than that of ace starter Landon Sims and lockdown reliever Stone Simmons.
Sims tore his ulnar collateral ligament March 4 at Tulane; Simmons did the identical the next day. The 2 barely bought began on their 2022 season earlier than it got here to a untimely finish.
Sims made simply three begins as he seemed to construct on a dynamic 2021 season because the Bulldogs’ nearer. He took a hard-luck loss after 13 strikeouts over seven innings within the season opener towards Lengthy Seashore State and allowed 4 runs — only one earned — the next week in a loss to Northern Kentucky.
He was dealing in New Orleans earlier than injuring his UCL on a pitch within the fourth inning. Sims struck out 10 Inexperienced Wave hitters in 3 2/3 excellent innings earlier than departing. He underwent Tommy John surgical procedure in mid-March.
Simmons suffered his harm on the ultimate pitch of a scoreless eighth inning the next day as MSU blew a 10-2 lead en path to a painful 11-10 loss. The one-time Furman pitcher didn’t enable a run in any of his 4 1/3 innings, pitching behind Sims in every of his first two appearances earlier than being injured in his third.
Sims’ and Simmons’ accidents weren’t the one ones to chew the Bulldogs. KC Hunt missed greater than a month after being damage in his first begin, and freshman Brooks Auger was injured in April and in addition underwent Tommy John.
110: Ultimate RPI
Mississippi State wound up at a paltry No. 110 in WarrenNolan.com’s closing Score Share Index, an indication of how far the Bulldogs completed from the match area.
Grand Canyon, for instance, was a shock choose for an at-large bid with an RPI of No. 50. Ole Miss’ RPI ranked thirty ninth, and the Rebels have been additionally a little bit of a shock when their presence within the area was introduced.
However the late-season skid along with just a few different components despatched the Bulldogs sliding down the rankings.
MSU’s nonconference energy of schedule ranked 273rd nationally. Opponents comparable to Grambling State (No. 276), Jackson State (No. 277), Princeton (No. 286), North Alabama (No. 288) and Arkansas–Pine Bluff (No. 299) introduced that quantity down.
So did Mississippi State’s Feb. 25 loss to Northern Kentucky, which completed the 12 months 19-35 and No. 249 in RPI.
Solely 10 Energy 5 groups completed decrease in RPI than the Bulldogs, virtually all within the Massive Ten.
Theo DeRosa reviews on Mississippi State sports activities for The Dispatch. Observe him on Twitter at @Theo_DeRosa.
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Mississippi
This drive showed where Mississippi State football offense can improve for Arizona State
![This drive showed where Mississippi State football offense can improve for Arizona State This drive showed where Mississippi State football offense can improve for Arizona State](https://www.gannett-cdn.com/authoring/authoring-images/2024/09/01/PNAS/75036945007-usatsi-24127468.jpg?auto=webp&crop=2927,1648,x0,y152&format=pjpg&width=1200)
STARKVILLE — Mississippi State football’s offense had a high-flying Saturday in coach Jeff Lebby’s first game.
It scored touchdowns on six of its first nine drives — one of which was a one-play kneel down to end the first half — leaving Eastern Kentucky buried early and deep at Davis Wade Stadium. It was a 56-7 win for the Bulldogs, with them leading 35-0 at one point in the first half.
Baylor transfer Blake Shapen was superb at quarterback and numerous wide receivers such as Jordan Mosley, Kevin Coleman, Mario Craver Jr. and Creed Whittemore made big plays against EKU (0-1).
Even still, Lebby wasn’t completely satisfied with the performance.
“I think there was a whole lot of good,” Lebby said postgame. “Proud of our guys for their energy and their competitive spirit and toughness they played with, but there’s so many things to clean up. I think that’s the biggest takeaway is that you got a chance to go win the way we won, but we’re going to need to play better, play cleaner and that’s where we’re going to look forward to as we get back into it.”
Take Mississippi State’s third offensive drive as an example of where it can improve.
It was the Bulldogs first drive where they didn’t score points, even though it began at the MSU 46-yard line.
MSU (1-0) was penalized for an illegal formation on the first play of the drive, negating a 47-yard catch-and-run from Craver. Three plays later, after Shapen scrambled 12 yards for a first down, MSU was whistled for another illegal formation. Mississippi State then failed to convert on 4th-and-3 from the EKU 33-yard line.
Those were the only penalties committed by Mississippi State’s offense all night, but it’s not the first time we’ve heard of those types of MSU infractions. In the preseason, following Mississippi State’s first scrimmage that was closed to the public, Lebby noted that “non-playing penalties” were a work in progress.
Players have said that Lebby’s up-tempo pace has been an adjustment. Perhaps it’s one that’s still ongoing.
“Looking back at the game, we did a lot of good things, but there were a couple drives that we killed the drive,” Shapen said. “So, we can keep getting better. I think an emphasis for me is just to let everybody know that we haven’t arrived or anything. We got a lot more to prove, especially going in to play a good Arizona State team next week.”
MORE: Jeff Lebby says Mississippi State football didn’t put on a good enough show. Here’s how he’s wrong
Arizona State might be better than anticipated
MSU’s Week 2 game at Arizona State (9:30 p.m., ESPN) was always going to be its most challenging in the nonconference schedule, but it looks even more so now.
Arizona State routed Wyoming 48-7 on Saturday night. The Sun Devils were about a seven-point favorite entering the game in Tempe, and Wyoming, historically, is no cakewalk in the Group of 5. It was an impressive statement from second-year coach Kenny Dillingham after a 4-9 season in 2023.
The Sun Devils (1-0) scored two defensive touchdowns, forced three turnovers and held Wyoming (0-1) to 118 total yards of offense. Sixty-two of those yards came in the fourth quarter with the game already well decided.
Sam Sklar is the Mississippi State beat reporter for the Clarion Ledger. Email him at ssklar@gannett.com and follow him on X @sklarsam_.
Mississippi
Mississippi St. demolishes E. Kentucky starting Lebby era with a 56-7 win
![Mississippi St. demolishes E. Kentucky starting Lebby era with a 56-7 win Mississippi St. demolishes E. Kentucky starting Lebby era with a 56-7 win](https://gray-wtok-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/VYCPKDPAFNCQ7MPKI6MN6UNQPQ.jpg?auth=a9e701ad9d9fa6c59471fe95f662d6ce2c957c85d07602764abf0256bf71c407&width=1200&height=600&smart=true)
STARKVILLE, Miss. (AP) — From the moment Jeff Lebby arrived in Starkville, the first-time head coach has preached that a show is coming to Mississippi State.
The Bulldogs certainly put on a show for game one of his tenure, as MSU had 450 yards of total offense and ran away with a 56-7 victory on Saturday against Eastern Kentucky. It gave the coach his first career win and kicked off a new era of football.
“One of the coolest things for myself and my family, the fans showed out. Over 10,000 students showed up and hung with us through the rain. They did an unbelievable job creating the energy,” he said.
All three phases scored for the Bulldogs with touchdowns on offense, defense and special teams.
On offense, quarterback Blake Shapen debuted the new scheme with a 15 of 20 showing as the Baylor transfer found the end zone three times through the air and had 247 yards. On the ground, Shapen led the team with seven carries for 44 yards and a rushing score.
“I felt like it was a good day for us,” Shapen said. “There are obviously some things we can clean up and get better at, but overall it was a great start to the season. I’m just thankful for this opportunity at a new place and I know a lot of guys feel that way.”
The Bulldogs (1-0) had four wide receivers score touchdowns as Jordan Mosely had five catches for 104 yards and a touchdown and Kevin Coleman had five catches for 88 yards and a score. Coleman also had five punt returns for 117 yards.
MSU scored touchdowns on its first two possessions before a rain storm dampened the progress. The Bulldogs were back in the end zone in the second quarter on a Creed Whittemore 41-yard end around and then back-to-back touchdown passes to Coleman from 23 yards away and freshman Mario Craver for 54 yards.
Special teams got in on the mix with a blocked punt from JP Purvis — recovered by Craver — and another true freshman in defensive back Elijah Cannon who had a 51-yard pick-6.
“It’s fun to see those guys go out there and make some plays. It’s a players’ game, players have got to make the plays,” Lebby said. “Fun for our sideline, fun for our guys to be able to see them make plays late in the game like this.”
EKU (0-1) scored a touchdown in the final seconds of the first half but was held scoreless in the final two frames. The Bulldogs allowed 130 second half yards. Despite running 19 more plays than State (76-57) the Colonels were outgained 450-285 with the Bulldogs averaging 7.9 yards per play.
“There are plenty of things that we have to clean up. We’ve got to play better, we’ve got to play cleaner,” Lebby said. “So much good, but so much to clean up. That was the message in the locker room.”
BIG PICTURE
EKU: The Colonels were simply overmatched, but the Colonels have a manageable schedule coming down the line.
Mississippi State: The Bulldogs have been searching for excitement and the team has it – at least for game one. State picked up nearly 500 yards of offense and showed explosiveness on that side of the ball as Lebby’s offense did its thing. There is a rough schedule on the horizon, but it appeared fun again for the Bulldogs.
UP NEXT
Eastern Kentucky travels to Western Kentucky on Sept. 7.
Mississippi State travels to Arizona State on Sept. 7.
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Mississippi
Seven Killed, Dozens Injured When Bus Flips in Mississippi
![Seven Killed, Dozens Injured When Bus Flips in Mississippi Seven Killed, Dozens Injured When Bus Flips in Mississippi](https://img2-azrcdn.newser.com/image/1556537-12-20240831141902.jpeg)
A commercial passenger bus driving through Mississippi on its way to Mexico ran off a highway and overturned early Saturday, killing seven people and injuring dozens. The accident occurred on Interstate 20 east of Vicksburg, CNN reports. A total of 37 people were taken to hospitals in Vicksburg and Jackson, the Mississippi Highway Patrol said. A 6-year-old boy and his 16-year-old sister were among those killed, per the AP. “Anytime you have people injured or killed, it’s tragic, but when you have a situation like this where you have multiple fatalities and multiple injuries, it makes it even worse,” said Warren County Sheriff Martin Pace.
The bus, a 2018 Volvo, is owned by Autobuses Regiomontanos, which transports passengers between Mexico and the US, a company spokesperson said. The company is based in Monterrey, Mexico, Miranda Fernandez said. Its website lists several US locations; it’s not clear where the trip had originated. “All of the passengers go through proper immigration checkpoints and must show their passports or visas to enter either Mexico or the United States,” Fernandez told CNN. (More bus accident stories.)
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