McBride hopes to get back to championship form at NCAAs

STARKVILLE — Brandon McBride had high hopes last year for the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships.

After winning the national title in the 800 meters as a sophomore in 2014, the Mississippi State track and field athlete hoped to win another championship. He had a target on his back, though, and finished sixth.

Rooker hits two home runs to help MSU beat Southeast Missouri State

STARKVILLE — Brent Rooker got the best of Joey Lucchesi in his first at-bat.

The Mississippi State baseball designated hitter jumped on a 2-0 fastball and hit a solo home run to right field off the Southeastern Missouri State ace in the second inning.

Before his next at-bat, Rooker talked with Jacob Robson in the on-deck circle.

“We both thought he would go breaking ball and try to get strike one on me,” Rooker said.

MSU allows Simmons to enroll while facing charges

Mississippi State University announced Thursday that Jeffery Simmons has enrolled at the university and will be allowed to play football, under conditions, including being suspended for the first game of his career.

Houston looks to ride the momentum of strong start in Hoover

STARKVILLE — Zac Houston’s performance last week was an eye-opener.

Regional Notebook: Cohen sees similarities between 2016 and 2013 Bulldogs

STARKVILLE — Mississippi State baseball coach John Cohen is seeing some similarities with this year’s team to a team from the past.

Kruger, Lowe earn trust of MSU teammates

STARKVILLE — Jack Kruger wants nothing more than to be respected by his teammates.

Coming from Oregon and Orange Coast (Calif.) College, Kruger arrived at Mississippi State in the fall hoping to fit in and to earn the respect of his teammates on the MSU baseball squad.

D1Baseball.com’s Rogers feels Starkville Regional will be ‘tough’

The top-seeded and No. 4 Mississippi State baseball team (41-16-1) will play Southeast Missouri State (39-19) at 1:30 p.m. Friday (ESPN3) in the first game of the Starkville Regional at Dudy Noble Field.

Second-seeded and No. 21 Cal State Fullerton (35-21) will play third-seeded Louisiana Tech (40-18) at 6:30 Friday night (ESPN3) to complete the first day of action in the double-elimination event.

Here are the thoughts of D1Baseball.com’s Kendall Rogers about the Starkville Regional and its teams:

MSU adds Florida WR to Class of 2016

The Mississippi State football team added another piece to its 2016 recruiting class.

Wide receiver Osirus Mitchell, of Sarasota, Florida, committed to the Bulldogs on Wednesday, according to multiple scouting websites. Mitchell couldn’t be reached for comment.

Mullen: Announcement about Simmons expected this week

STARKVILLE — Mississippi State football coach Dan Mullen said an announcement about the future of incoming freshman Jeffery Simmons with the program is expected to be made later in the week.

Former MSU players know advantage in playing at Dudy Noble

STARKVILLE — Jarrod Parks and Nick Vickerson know the importance of home-field advantage.

Cohen will wait to name starting pitcher for regional opener

STARKVILLE — With an unfamiliar opponent, John Cohen hasn’t decided on his pitching rotation for the Starkville Regional this weekend.

Top-seeded and No. 4 MSU (41-16-1) will open NCAA tournament play at 1:30 p.m. Friday against fourth-seeded Southeast Missouri State (39-19) at Dudy Noble Field.

Newman will transfer from MSU

STARKVILLE — After one season with the Mississippi State basketball team, five-star guard Malik Newman will transfer, coach Ben Howland announced Monday.

The former Callaway High School standout was expected to be a “one-and-done player.” He went through the NBA Combine earlier this month, but he withdrew before the deadline Wednesday.

Bulldogs are No. 6 seed in NCAA tourney

The Mississippi State baseball team is in the midst of a historical season.

On Monday, the Bulldogs added to the growing list of accomplishments.

Mississippi State eagerly anticipates regional announcement Monday

Embarrassing.

That was the one word that came to mind for Mississippi State Baseball coach John Cohen and junior Gavin Collins when talking about Friday night’s 12-2, seven-inning run-rule loss to Florida Friday to be eliminated from the Southeastern Conference tournament in Hoover, Alabama.

Stratton becomes 54th MSU player to receive call to majors

Former Mississippi State baseball pitcher Chris Stratton was called up by the San Francisco Giants Saturday.

MSU falls to LSU in SEC tournament opener

HOOVER, Ala. — The Mississippi State baseball team was out of sync.

Whether it was Dakota Hudson on the mound or his teammates in the field or at the plate, the Bulldogs didn’t do much right Thursday against one of the nation’s hottest teams.

Hudson lasted five innings, the defense committed three errors, and the offense scuffled in top-seeded and No. 2 MSU’s 6-2 loss to fifth-seeded and No. 7 LSU in a winners’ bracket game in the Southeastern Conference tournament at Hoover Metropolitan Stadium.

Stovall gets two hits in return to lineup

HOOVER, Ala. — Hunter Stovall knew his opportunity was coming.

The Mississippi State baseball freshman fractured the tibia in his left knee on April 28 when he ran into Alabama first baseman Cody Henry trying to beat out a ground ball.

Houston dominates Alabama in MSU’s SEC tourney opener

HOOVER, Ala. — Zac Houston’s heart sank as he looked out to left field.

Houston watched as Reid Humphreys drifted back to the fence in pursuit of Chance Vincent’s blast. Humphreys tracked the ball to the wall and reached up at the last second to take a home run away and record the first out of the top of the eighth inning.

Collins extends hitting streak to 18 games

HOOVER, Ala. — Gavin Collins decided to simplify his approach at the plate.

Early in the season, the Mississippi State junior third baseman was using a leg kick as a timing mechanism, but he wasn’t getting the results he wanted, so he changed things up.

West Point’s Murphy commits to MSU

Although Marcus Murphy has two seasons of high school football left, he already is thinking about playing at the next level.

On Tuesday, the West Point High School football rising junior gave a verbal commitment to Mississippi State via Twitter.