STARKVILLE – The transfer portal has been closed for some time but this will not stop Mississippi State from bolstering its roster.

As many know, head coach Chris Jans likes to have a deep rotation of players on his roster and now with the commitment of Georgia forward RJ Melendez, he has started to make plays to fill his bench with quality of quantity.

Born in Arecibo, Puerto Rico, Melendez started his collegiate career in the Big 10 with Illinois. He spent his freshman and sophomore years as a consistent role player for the team and moved to the SEC last year to play for Georgia.

During his junior campaign, he started to form into a complete player increasing his scoring average by five points and providing consistent rebound and free-throw shooting. He is also a lengthy wing defender which coincides with Jans’ defensive coaching mentality,

What is more impressive is his free throw shooting percentage. For his career, he has been an 88 percent free-throw shooter, which will bring relief to the Bulldogs who have been one of the worst free-throw shooting teams in the country over the past two years. That is if he can stay consistent with his charity stripe shooting for the maroon and white.

A shot-blocking big man is still something the Bulldogs are searching for in the portal. However, MSU is getting closer to filling out its roster for next season, and on paper, there have been improvements in all areas for the team.

Friday saw big wins by Mississippi State’s teams with the baseball, softball and men’s tennis teams all recording dominant wins on Friday.

MSU’s baseball team run-ruled No. 23 Alabama in seven innings and MSU’s No. 19 softball team shutout No. 14 Georgia 2-0. Meanwhile, the men’s tennis team opened the first round of the NCAA Championships with a 4-0 win against Alabama State.

Today’s Schedule

Baseball: Mississippi State vs. No. 23 Alabama, 2 p.m. SEC Network+

Softball: No. 19 Mississippi State vs No. 14 Georgia, Noon, SEC Network+

Men’s Tennis: Mississippi State vs. Middle Tennessee, 1 p.m., Cracked Racquets CrossCourt

Mississippi State Results

Baseball: Mississippi State 13, No. 23 Alabama 3 (7 innings)

Softball: No. 19 Mississippi State 2, No. 14 Georgia 0

Men’s Tennis: Mississippi State 4, Alabama State 0

Did You Notice?

Mississippi State’s men’s tennis team advanced to the second round of the NCAA Championships with a shutout victory against Alabama State, 4-0, in the opening round of the Starkville Regional. It was the second-straight year MSU downed the Hornets (14-4) to start off postseason play at home. It was also be the second time the Bulldogs will square off against Middle Tennessee State in the second round.

Mississippi State softball’s Brylie St. Clair was chosen as one of eight finalists for the Female Athlete of the Year Award at the Influence NIL Summit’s NIL Awards. The fifth-year outfielder from Sand Rock, Alabama, gained notoriety on social media where she has more than 400,000 combined followers. She has partnered with brands in the beauty, cosmetics and fashion industries while also reaping the benefits of licensed apparel.

Countdown to Mississippi State’s 2024 Opener

119

Daily Dose of Mike Leach

“I do have a Viking axe by the bed if I need to whack someone… My wife bought me a Viking axe – the axe side curls down so you can grab the adversary around the neck and you can use it to climb walls, as a grappling hook.”

Follow us on:

• Facebook: Cowbell Corner: All Things Mississippi State

STARKVILLE, Miss. — Mississippi State pounded out 13 hits tonight en route to a 13-3 win over Alabama. The offense started hot for MSU, as leadoff hitter Bryce Chance dropped a single into right field. 

Dakota Jordan worked a walk after falling behind 0-2, and once again, the red-hot Hunter Hines had a chance to do damage. The junior first baseman continued his hot streak with a three-run home run to center field just out of the reach of the leaping Crimson Tide defender. 

They were not done. The bottom of the order started the rally in the second as freshman second baseman Ethan Pulliam worked a walk, and Johnny Long hit a soft groundball to move Pulliam up to second with two outs.

The first pitch hit Chance in his at-bat, and David Mershon ripped an RBI single into right field to extend the State lead to 4-0. Hines was not done inflicting damage as he destroyed a ball to left field for a solo home run in the third. 

“We are really hard to beat when Hunter Hines plays like that,” Lemonis said. 

Johnny Long drove home Pulliam on an infield single to extend the lead to 6-0. Once again, State used the long ball to add to their lead as Bryce Chance hit a solo home run in the fourth. 

After a pair of walks, it brought up a slumping Larry with the bases loaded with no outs. The Lousiana native has struggled this season and was moved out of the lead-off spot, but he took advantage of this opportunity by blasting a grand slam into the left field lounge to give State a 12-0 lead. 

“Big night, great kid (Larry), he never put his head down,” Lemonis said. 

“I am proud of him,” Hines said. 

The Bulldog offense reaches a new level when Hines is hitting well, and tonight was one of the best offensive days for this team in SEC play this year. Five MSU hitters had two hits tonight, and everyone in the lineup reached base, with Hines and Larry each having four RBIs. 

“It feels great…. it is more about the team and keep supporting no matter what,” Larry said. 

The potential of this lineup has been evident all year long, but they have struggled to put all their pieces together. This team is playing their best baseball at the perfect time, especially offensively, as for the first time all season, every guy in the lineup is being productive at the plate. 

“A lot of guys had really good at-bats,” Lemonis said. “The guys at the front were really pulling.”

The expectations of this team have changed from making postseason play to potentially being a host site. The past two seasons have been a struggle, and most of these players are experiencing a postseason push for the first time. 

“It is fun,” Hines said. “This is what I came here to do.” 

The Bulldogs have another opportunity tomorrow to enhance their resume as they go for the series at 2 p.m. CT.