Articles by Brett Hudson
Cannizaro focused on shoring up bullpen
STARKVILLE — As of Wednesday afternoon, Mississippi State baseball coach Andy Cannizaro didn’t know who was going to start the final game of this weekend’s three-game series against Oregon.
The doubt had nothing to do with that final spot in the starting rotation.
“Everything we’re going to do this weekend has the full priority of strengthening that bullpen,” Cannizaro said.
Mullen ready to begin search for 2017 starters
STARKVILLE — Columbus High School standout Kylin Hill could be one of many Mississippi State football signees to contribute early in his career.
That’s the mind-set MSU coach Dan Mullen had on National Signing Day as he talked about Hill and the rest of his signing class.
“I thought when we looked at him that he was one of the best, if not the best, running back in the country,” Mullen said. “I thought (he was) the best running back in the state of Mississippi. He brings the physical ability to run the ball between the tackles and breakaway speed when he gets into the second level.”
MSU baseball team resting up prior to trip
STARKVILLE — The Mississippi State baseball team received a rare break this week from the every-day grind of a season.
With no midweek games before a trip to Oregon this weekend, MSU went four days without a game, the longest break it will have until May, when it has no midweek games between series against Texas A&M and Georgia.
Granted a rare opportunity to get his players a few days of rest, MSU coach Andy Cannizaro took it.
Cannizaro wants Bulldogs to be better at plate
STARKVILLE — Through eight games, the Mississippi State baseball team has hit 11 home runs, compared to four at this point last season.
The SEC Network called it the Cannizaro Effect.
That number was part of an impressive weekend of hitting for MSU — not that anyone could tell by how the team talked about its performance Sunday following a 9-8 loss to Marist.
MSU men shooting for bigger production
STARKVILLE — February hasn’t been kind to the Mississippi State men’s basketball team.
While MSU has spent weeks searching for an answer to end its six-game losing streak, it has to figure out a way to generate more offense. MSU has set a season lows for scoring twice in the last three games, scoring 52 in a home loss to Florida before a 77-48 loss to Vanderbilt on Saturday in Nashville, Tennessee.
Mullen lands 4-year contract extension
From the perspective of local high school football coaches, Mississippi State football coach Dan Mullen has built a winning program primarily on in-state players.
Gridley settling into No. 3 spot in lineup
STARKVILLE — There were times last season Ryan Gridley grew accustomed to daily change.
Mississippi State’s shortstop bounced around in the lineup as a sophomore, but Gridley is delivering as a No. 3 hitter this season. In 17 at-bats, Gridley had 13 hits, five RBIs, one double, one home run, and stole four bases in a 3-1 weekend that saw MSU beat Indiana State 11-6 Friday and 9-1 Saturday and beat Marist 12-4 Saturday before losing to Marist 9-8 Sunday.
MSU baseball drops weekend finale to Marist
STARKVILLE — Freshman pitcher Riley Self couldn’t stop looking to his right as he answered questions.
Even though Self did his part by pitching 3 1/3 scoreless innings, Marist parlayed five runs in the first three innings into a celebration in right field following a 9-8 victory at Dudy Noble Field.
MSU bats produce in doubleheader sweep
STARKVILLE — Pitching to Mississippi State outfielder Brent Rooker was no longer a feasible option. His last 10 at-bats featured eight hits, 14 RBIs, three doubles and three home runs, forcing Indiana State to intentionally walk him.
Bulldogs use shot-tracking technology to stay on top of game
STARKVILLE — Mike Moynihan, Mississippi State’s director of men’s basketball operations, tells the story of watching sophomore guard Quinndary Weatherspoon make 34 3-pointers in a row. Stories of this lore are not uncommon in the basketball world, yet most coaches have no definitive answer for how to translate a reasonable amount of that success to games.
MSU baseball looks to bounce back
STARKVILLE — Andy Cannizaro is staying far away from the panic button.
Fourth-ranked Borges helps resurgence of MSU tennis
STARKVILLE — At the ITA National Team Indoor Championships in Charlottesville, Virginia, Nuno Borges was showing his frustration.
Blaylock makes strong impression in MSU baseball debut
STARKVILLE — Brant Blaylock had no doubt: he had just hit his first collegiate home run. Mississippi State’s redshirt freshman left fielder couldn’t help but give a subtle flip of the bat as he watched it soar out of Dudy Noble Field.
Ready’s effort not enough to save MSU against Ole Miss
STARKVILLE — I.J. Ready was the last Bulldog through the post-game handshake line.
As Ready turned to his right to return to the locker room, he untucked his cream jersey and shook his head as a teammate wrapped an arm around him.
Turnovers costly for MSU in OT loss to Ole Miss
STARKVILLE — Turnovers aren’t a common Achilles’ heel for the Mississippi State men’s basketball team.
The Bulldogs’ average turnover margin per game was just shy of plus-1 prior to Tuesday night, but that number will change after they committed a season-high 22 turnovers in an 87-82 overtime loss to Ole Miss at Humphrey Coliseum.
Starkville Academy boys beat St. Joseph in playoff opener
STARKVILLE — It happened so quickly Starkville Academy boys soccer coach Matt Sykes couldn’t describe how it happened.
That didn’t prevent Sykes, a former standout goalkeeper at Heritage Academy and at East Central Community College, from describing the impact goalkeeper Logan Dowell had in denying a scoring chance in the opening minutes.
Stovall fits bill in No. 9 spot
STARKVILLE — Andy Cannizaro has a different use for the No. 9 spot in his lineup.
Last season, Cole Gordon led the LSU baseball team with a .329 batting average and a .427 on-base percentage. Gordon also was the team’s second-best base stealer. Production like that normally is found at the top of the lineup.
Howland wants better defense against Rebels
STARKVILLE — Even in losing four of its last five games, the Mississippi State’s men’s basketball team has remained competitive. The margin of victory or defeat in that stretch has been 5.5 points.
You have to go back one more game — an 88-61 loss to Ole Miss on Jan. 31 — to see that streak end.
Stovall, Self help MSU close weekend with two wins
STARKVILLE — All Mississippi State second baseman Hunter Stovall had left to show was a bit of baserunning.
Entering Sunday night’s game against No. 25 Texas Tech, Stovall already had shown he was one of the better hitters at Dudy Noble Field. He also had fielded his position without making an error. His chance to make an impact as a runner came in the fourth inning, when he reached third base as the go-ahead run.
MSU baseball gives Cannizaro first career victory
STARKVILLE — Tanner Poole can, as he put it, “chill,” now.