Top-seeded MSU focused on Alabama in SEC tournament opener

STARKVILLE — Many experts believe the Mississippi State baseball team has locked up a national seed for the NCAA tournament.

Winning the Southeastern Conference regular-season championship with a 21-9 record, No. 2 MSU’s resume includes series wins at Vanderbilt, at Florida, and at LSU.

Is Malik Newman leaving MSU?

Mississippi State University basketball guard Malik Newman is expected to withdraw from the National Basketball Association Draft today and he may not play again for MSU, according to an ESPN report Tuesday.

Cohen named Coach of the Year

After the best turnaround in Southeastern Conference history, the honors rolled in for the Mississippi State University baseball team Monday.

Starkville’s High Gee caps state championship career by signing with Ole Miss

STARKVILLE — Ralesheia Gee sat in front of friends, family, teammates, coaches and schoolmates Monday and was quiet as a church mouse.

MSU’s Mangum wins state’s top honor, league’s top honor in same day

STARKVILLE — It was arguably the biggest day in in the young life of Jake Mangum. But you wouldn’t know it by looking at him.

Cohen brings home conference coach of year honors

STARKVILLE — Nick Mingione will never forget what John Cohen did after winning the Southeastern Conference Coach of the Year in 2006.

Loss to Alabama helped MSU baseball re-focus

STARKVILLE — The Mississippi State baseball team left Tuscaloosa, Alabama, on April 30 wondering what if.

After beating Alabama in Game 1 of the Southeastern Conference series, a rainout forced MSU to play two seven-inning games on that day. The Bulldogs led 2-0 after the top of the fourth inning in the first game of the doubleheader, and took a 3-2 lead into the bottom of the ninth. But four walks and a walk-off RBI single from Chance Vincent gave the Crimson Tide the victory. The Bulldogs bounced back in the nightcap for a 2-1 victory.

SEC Champions: Bulldogs call hogs, before being called champions

STARKVILLE — Two separate cheers erupted at Dudy Noble Field Saturday night.

Hudson, Mangum power No. 3 MSU past Arkansas

STARKVILLE — Dakota Hudson and Jake Mangum are competing against each other even though they play for the same team.

The Mississippi State standouts are finalists for the Ferriss Trophy, which is given to the top college baseball player in the state of Mississippi. On Thursday, they had performances worthy of winning the award.

Hudson threw a complete-game shutout, while Mangum went 5-for-5 — his first five-hit game — in No. 3 MSU’s 7-0 victory against Arkansas in Game 1 of the three-game Southeastern Conference series at Dudy Noble Field.

Columbus High’s Hill commits to MSU

Kylin Hill won’t have to travel far to play college football.

The Columbus High School football rising senior verbally committed to Mississippi State via Twitter on Wednesday.

“MSU is family,” Hill said. “They treat you like you’re their favorite cousin.”

Kruger hopes to stay hot at plate

STARKVILLE — Jack Kruger doesn’t call the last month a resurgence.

After getting off to a hot start, the Mississippi State junior fell into a lull offensively that forced him out of the lineup. In the last four weeks, though, Kruger has worked his way back into the rotation and is riding a wave he feels is just a part playing the game.

MSU men’s tennis hopes to stay in moment, survive in NCAAs

STARKVILLE — Matt Roberts is all about staying in the moment.

That’s why Roberts took a moment in the spring of 2014 to consider his good fortune when he was named to lead the Mississippi State men’s tennis team after working one season as an assistant coach for Per Nilsson, who left for Pepperdine.

Roberts never imagined what he could accomplish at MSU. Instead, he focused on the hard work the program needed to maintain its success.

Roberts’ work has paid off, as a young MSU squad has blossomed en route to a fourth-place finish in the Southeastern Conference.

Three MSU players up for Ferriss Trophy

STARKVILLE — Three Mississippi State baseball players were named finalists for the Boo Ferriss Trophy, the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame announced Monday.

MSU junior right-hander Dakota Hudson, junior outfielder/pitcher Reid Humphreys, and freshman outfielder Jake Mangum joined Ole Miss junior outfielder J.B. Woodman and Delta State senior outfielder Will Robertson as finalists.

Starkville High searching for new coaches

STARKVILLE — Milton Smith is excited about the job he has in front of him.

Howard’s blast caps Auburn’s SEC tournament title

STARKVILLE — Tiffany Howard had done almost everything.

Hit .415? Stroke doubles and triples and lead the team in hits? No problem. Earn Southeastern Conference All-Freshman and All-Defensive honors as well as National Fastpitch Coaches Association All-Southeast Region and All-America accolades? The Auburn outfielder accomplished that last season.

Former MSU star arrested for stolen car

Former Mississippi State University basketball star Marcus Bullard is in legal trouble again.

Simmons, LSU break through to beat Kentucky

STARKVILLE — Sandra Simmons is tough.

The LSU senior has developed a reputation as being one of the Southeastern Conference’s most tenacious players.

Simmons showed that attitude in the LSU softball team’s victory against Texas A&M on Wednesday. She delivered again Thursday, hitting a three-run home run to lift No. 12 LSU past No. 11 Kentucky 3-1 in the quarterfinals of the SEC tournament at Nusz Park.

No. 3 MSU set to face old friend Thompson, Auburn

STARKVILLE — Butch Thompson would have sacrificed almost anything to get Dakota Hudson.

The former Mississippi State baseball pitching coach went to see the right-hander pitch for his Sequatchie County High School team one night in a game in Dunlap, Tennessee, which is right outside of Chattanooga. Coaches from four other Southeastern Conference teams were there that night, so Thompson knew it was going to be a challenge to get Hudson to become a Bulldog. He left not knowing what Hudson was going to do, but he received a call from Hudson halfway back to Starkville and Hudson gave him a verbal commitment.

Gregg, Tennessee eliminate South Carolina

STARKVILLE — Growing up as an Atlanta Braves fan, Meghan Gregg decided to replicate her swing after a Brave.

Gregg didn’t pattern her swing off Chipper Jones, one of the best Braves in the last 15 years. Instead, she watched Andruw Jones when he stepped into the batter’s box.

Landry plays key role in LSU’s victory against Texas A&M

STARKVILLE — Bailey Landry’s mind-set doesn’t change.

Regardless of the situation, the junior right fielder tries to go to the plate or to take the field with the same attitude every time.

No. 12 LSU needed Landry to do that Wednesday in the bottom of the seventh

inning against No. 16 Texas A&M.