STARKVILLE John Cohen has heard the comparisons between his current Mississippi State baseball team and the 2013 squad that reached the College World Series and played for a national championship.
He just hasn’t had time to give it much thought.
“We just don’t have time to analyze it,” Cohen said. “We have to get ready for Auburn. This club is a different group. I do think this group is capable of getting on a roll.”
Both teams started the season on hot streaks, with MSU winning its first 17 games in 2013 and first 13 games this season. Both teams lost the last series of non-conference play. The 2013 team fell to Central Arkansas, while the current group dropped two of three to San Diego.
Both teams also hit a lull in March. The 2013 team lost eight of 14 games after March 9 and won three of its first nine Southeastern Conference games. This year, MSU has lost 10 of its last 15 and has started league play 2-4.
While the resumes to this point are similar, the end of the season turned out great for the Bulldogs two years ago. This season? That remains to be seen.
“This team does everything, as a coach, you’d want them to do,” Cohen said. “They are probably some of the best students we’ve ever had. They approach the game the right way. I really feel they are capable of making a run. If you look at it, we have been right there. We are hitting balls hard, making pitches, putting ourselves in spots to succeed, but the ball is not bouncing our way yet. Soon, I think it’s going to happen and you’re going to see big things from this team.”
After losing to Arkansas on March 31 to fall to 3-6 in SEC play, the 2013 Bulldogs went 28-12 the rest of the season, which led to a loss to UCLA in the national championship series.
n Fitts back?: MSU closer Trevor Fitts, who is 1-2 with two blown saves, didn’t make the trip to Kentucky last weekend. He hasn’t pitched since giving up two runs in a 10-5 loss to Alabama two weeks ago. According to Cohen, though, a return to the mound this weekend could be possible for Fitts.
“Hopefully we’ll get him back,” Cohen said. “He’s a guy who has done some things in the past. Hopefully he’ll get out there this weekend and be effective.”
Fitts has a 1.50 ERA this season and has four of MSU’s six saves.
n “They’re all important”: There’s no denying MSU needs a series win. Two weeks ago against Alabama in the first SEC series for both teams, the Bulldogs led after seven innings in all three games, but the bullpen surrendered the lead that led to two losses.
At Kentucky, the Bulldogs’ starters joined the act, giving up 20 runs in the first two games, both losses. At 2-4 in league play, MSU needs a turnaround this weekend against Auburn (15-10, 1-5) at home.
“I don’t know if you can say it’s more important because they’re all important,” Cohen said. “We just have to keep competing at a high level and things will start to happen.”
Auburn’s early season SEC slate, called by Cohen “probably the toughest in the league,” has left the Tigers with one win in two weekends. Auburn was swept by Texas A&M, a team that is off to a 24-1 start, and then lost two of three to reigning national champion Vanderbilt.
“They are a solid club,” Cohen said of Auburn. “Their pitching numbers are good, they can hit it. They will be ready to compete.”
n Starting rotation stays the same: For the third SEC weekend in a row, Cohen will trot out the same three starting pitchers. Preston Brown, MSU’s ace all season, will start tonight, while Austin Sexton will pitch Saturday and Vance Tatum will start Sunday.
Brown, who allowed six runs in 1 2/3 innings at Kentucky, is 3-2 with a 3.77 ERA.
Sexton, a sophomore from Huntsville, Alabama, is 3-1 with a 2.09 ERA.
He is two weeks removed from allowing one earned run in a complete-game win against Alabama.
Tatum earned his first career complete game victory Sunday at Kentucky. Tatum, also a sophomore, is 3-0 with a 3.26 ERA.
Follow Dispatch sports writer Brandon Walker on Twitter @BWonStateBeat
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