STARKVILLE, Miss. – After becoming just the second first-year head coach in program history to lead Mississippi State to a 40-win season and a Super Regional appearance, Andy Cannizaro has released the 2018 baseball schedule.
MSU has also unveiled updated renderings of the new Dudy Noble Field, in addition to answers to frequently asked questions (FAQs) regarding the 2018 season at the new ballpark. For more information on the project, visit HailState.com/NewDude.
The Diamond Dawgs will open the season with a 12-game road trip, starting in Hattiesburg for a three-game series at Southern Miss (Feb. 16-18). MSU last faced the Golden Eagles in the 2016 Hattiesburg Regional, as the Bulldogs battled back from the loser’s bracket to beat USM twice in the same day to advance to its second-straight Super Regional.
“We’re extremely excited about our schedule this year, it’s one that presents a lot of tough challenges early in the season,” said Cannizaro. “We also have some great opportunities to play in other parts of our state and region, which will give our fans opportunities to see us in person. It’s an extremely challenging schedule, one that I really believe is going to prepare us for SEC play. We’re excited about it and looking forward to the challenges.”
State will spend its next two weekends in Texas at the Kleberg Bank College Classic in Corpus Christi (Feb. 23-25) and in Houston at the Shiner’s College Classic (March 2-4), at Minute Maid Park, the home of the Houston Astros.
With construction in progress on the new $55 million Dudy Noble Field, the Bulldogs return home for a five-game homestand that begins Tuesday, March 6 against New Mexico State. The midweek will also open an 11-game stretch that includes 10 games at Dudy Noble.
With 14 midweeks on the 2018 slate, nine will be played away from Starkville, including matchups with Southeastern Louisiana in Biloxi (March 14), Alabama State in Montgomery (April 11), Memphis at AutoZone Park (April 18), Ole Miss in Pearl (April 24) and Troy at the Hoover Met (May 9).
Southeastern Conference play opens against Vanderbilt (March 16-18) in Starkville and continues at Missouri (March 23-25) and at LSU (March 29-31).
State will then return home for a Super Bulldog Weekend series vs. Ole Miss (April 6-8) before continuing a stretch of six-straight SEC series vs. SEC West opponents – at Auburn (April 13-15), vs. Arkansas (April 20-22), vs. Texas A&M (April 27-29) and at Alabama (May 3-5).
The regular season concludes with a pair of series against SEC East programs – at Kentucky (May 11-13) and at home against defending national champion Florida (May 17-19).
For more information on the Diamond Dawg program, follow the program on Twitter, like them on Facebook and join them on Instagram by searching for “HailStateBB.” You can also find all-access coverage of the program on SnapChat by searching for “HailStateSnap.”
2018 Mississippi State Baseball Schedule
