STARKVILLE — For the first time, Mississippi State and Southern Mississippi baseball teams will face each other in a traditional three-game weekend series format.
MSU announced a home-and-home series with Southern Miss in which the Bulldogs will travel to Hattiesburg for three games in 2018 and the Golden Eagles will come to Starkville in 2019. The 2018 series in Hattiesburg will be the regular-season debut.
MSU defeated USM 13-5 in the most recent meeting March 29, 2016, at Trustmark Park in Pearl, the home of the Double-A Mississippi Braves. The teams have met every year since 2009. MSU last went to Southern Miss in 2008 for a two-game midweek series, while the Golden Eagles’ last trip to Starkville was in 2007.
MSU has won seven of its last eight games against USM. This season, the Bulldogs will play the Golden Eagles on March 21 at Trustmark Park.
MSU will continue preparations for its opener at 4:30 p.m. today with a scrimmage. The team also will scrimmage at 4:30 p.m. Friday, at 1:30 Saturday, and at 11:30 a.m. Sunday. The scrimmages are free and open to the public.
Fans and students will have a chance to interact with the baseball team at Cowbell Yell at 6 tonight. Gates will open at 5 p.m. The event will precede the women’s basketball game against Vanderbilt at 8 p.m. in Humphrey Coliseum. The first 1,000 students will receive a voucher for a free “The Dudes” T-shirt to be redeemed at the women’s basketball game.
MSU will play 2016 College World Series participant Texas Tech at 4 p.m. Friday, Feb. 17, at Dudy Noble Field.
Follow Dispatch sports writer Brett Hudson on Twitter @Brett_Hudson
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