You do have to attribute a chunk of this to USM being brutally bad at the plate (they hit below .200 as a team so far), but we obviously have incredible pitching depth. 20 K’s as a staff without really using any of our normal top arms is special.
Our fielding needs a lot of improvement, but Southern's was absolutely atrocious.
This feels like a team that is bubble in May or that has to win the tourney to get in. And they're playing the tourney outside of Mississippi (Ruston) for the first time in many years, so that ain't going to be a walk in the park like it often is. We just took 2/3 from a good UConn team, but we were a break or 2 from losing the series or being swept.
Coming into the year, I felt we'd be a strong #2 seed somewhere. Thought our pitching staff would be really good and that we would hit enough. But to this point all we look to have is a good ace and a couple nice relievers (which is big, because quality bullpen depth is a chronic problem for us). The offense is going to improve, but definitely won't be a strength. In years past, we'd get down 5-0 or 6-1 early and not have it be fatal because we could slug our way out of holes. That isn't really there for this team.
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Jahron Manning and Malick Sylla practice, but still not eligible
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Teammates and Coaches see "Special" KaMario Taylor handling the hype
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True freshman shines as Mississippi State kicks off with soccer win
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Mississippi State MBK guard Josh Hubbard's high school jersey to be retired at alma mater
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"Outside world doesn't matter": Isaac Smith and Mississippi State leveling up in self-belief