Florida blasts Bulldogs 11-1 in Super Regional opener

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The Mississippi State baseball team entered its NCAA Super Regional series against Florida brimming with confidence.

Even though they’d lost three of four against the No. 2-ranked Gators, a pair of two-run defeats to Florida and a flawless regional round against the Gators gave players and coaches the sense that there wasn’t much separating the two teams — if they played a perfect game.

Friday, after an 11-1 loss that mirrored some of MSU’s uglier defeats this season, the Bulldogs find themselves one loss away from their season ending.

NCAA Super Regional postgame: MSU v Florida

NCAA Super Regional at Gainesville

Game 1 of best-of-three series

Florida 11, MSU 1

—Gators have 1-0 series lead heading into Saturday’s noon (CDT) start

—Gators are undefeated in postseason play and have outscored opponents 34-1 in the first three innings of NCAA games.

—MSU tied its third-worst loss of the season (fell 17-1 to LSU and 18-0 and 10-0 to Vanderbilt)

—Bulldogs’ lowest run total since losing 17-1 to LSU on May 19.

—MSU held to one run or less for the ninth time this season

NCAA Super Regional pre-game: MSU v Florida

—NCAA Super Regional at Gainesville

Mississippi State (37-23, Swept Atlanta regional) vs. Florida (48-16, Swept Gainesville regional)

Game time (11 a.m. CDT)

Broadcast: ESPN2

Florida won three of four games against the Bulldogs this season, including a come-from-behind 7-5 win in the SEC tournament. Two of MSU’s losses to Florida have come by two runs.

Shepherd relishing another shot at Gators

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Jaron Shepherd could have the biggest spotlight of any Mississippi State baseball player during the Bulldogs’ NCAA Super Regional against the University of Florida.

The senior outfielder is bound to get a workout in right field against as many as five left-handed hitters in Florida’s potent lineup, which MSU coach John Cohen calls “the best in the nation.”

Fifth time this season vs. Florida the charm for MSU baseball?

STARKVILLE — It’s easy to say the Mississippi State baseball team is as confident as it’s been this season.

Local coaches mentor next crop of baseball prospects

STARKVILLE — Team Mississippi held its final practice Wednesday afternoon at Mississippi State’s Dudy Noble Field before departing for the Junior Sunbelt Classic in McAlester, Okla..

NCAA Super Regional notebook: Mitchell’s the man for Game 1; MSU hitters expect tougher Randall

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Over the past two weeks, John Cohen has said freshman pitcher Evan Mitchell is the “hot hand.”

So it was no surprise when he officially names Mitchell the starting pitcher for Game 1 of Mississippi State’s NCAA Super Regional against the Florida Gators.

In all, Mitchell (6-1, 3.47 ERA) has pitched a total of eight innings against the Gators (five innings in a start in the SEC tournament and three innings of relief in the Starkville series ) and has given up four earned runs on nine hits.

That kind of stat line in a start tomorrow would be a welcome sight against a lineup Cohen calls “the best in the country.”

NCAA Super Regional notebook: UF’s Randall looking for another shot at State; Johnson a full go

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — As the Florida baseball team’s Friday starter, Hudson Randall isn’t used to having bad starts.

The sophomore right-hander, who was a freshman All-American last season, leads Florida’s starters with a 2.38 ERA and is 9-3 on the season.

There’s one start he’s still ruing over: his loss at Mississippi State.

Bullldogs plan to keep swinging vs. Florida

STARKVILLE – Don’t take the foot off the pedal.

Mississippi State notebook: Bradford leading freshman class

STARKVILLE – To reach a NCAA Super Regional, freshmen must grow up over the course of the season.

C.T. Bradford, one of several Mississippi State freshmen to contribute to MSU’s turnaround season, is the only one to make an impact as an everyday player.

Timing right for MSU’s Routt

STARKVILLE — A year ago, Nick Routt wasn’t sure if the elbow pain that derailed his sophomore season would ever cease.

The Mississippi State left-hander had to have surgery to repair the ulnar nerve in his pitching elbow. His strikeout pitch, a screwball action changeup that required heavy pronation, was the cause of the pain.

Simply Super: MSU beats Georgia Tech to advance

ATLANTA — The game plan worked to perfection.

The flawless play that saw the Mississippi State baseball team advance to the title game of the NCAA tournament’s Atlanta Regional continued Sunday, as MSU received its first complete-game of the season from left-hander Nick Routt and another early barrage of runs that led to a 7-3 win against Georgia Tech.

MSU shows it’s more than scrappy

ATLANTA — John Cohen understands why anyone outside of his Mississippi State baseball team would label his team “scrappy.”

The Bulldogs don’t have an explosive offense or a stable of dominant pitchers. They’re not loaded with highly touted first-round picks. They had to claw their way into the Southeastern Conference tournament and then anxiously await an at-large bid to the NCAA field after going 0-2 in the league tournament in Hoover, Ala.

NCAA Regional post-game: MSU v Ga. Tech

NCAA Atlanta Regional

Championship Game

MSU 7, Georgia Tech 3

—Bulldogs advance to Gainesville Super Regional

—MSU goes undefeated in a regional/district for the fourth time in school history; last time was 2007, when it advanced to the College World Series. MSU is heading to its fourth Super Regional since 2001.

NCAA Regional pre-game: MSU v Ga. Tech

—NCAA Regional at Atlanta

No. 3 MSU (36-23, finished second in the SEC West) v No. 1 Georgia Tech (42-20, finished second in ACC Coastal)

–Bulldogs beat Austin Peay and Southern Miss to advance to title game; Ga. Tech lost to Austin Peay on opening day and followed with wins over Southern Miss and Austin Peay in the loser’s bracket.

Game time: 6:06 p.m. (CDT)

Broadcast: CSS

NCAA Regional pre-game: Vickerson’s second-half form; MSU’s options on the mound

ATLANTA — Jarrod Parks’ admitted hitting slump down the stretch of the season could have had a stronger impact on Mississippi State’s offense had it not been for fellow senior Nick Vickerson’s current hot streak.

Vickerson began the season as MSU’s leadoff man, and while he managed to score 20 runs through the first 14 games his batting average was just .250.

MSU baseball one win away from NCAA Super Regionals

ATLANTA — The Mississippi State baseball team never claimed to be explosive.

Mitchell enjoys upbeat return home

ATLANTA — Evan Mitchell’s Homecoming couldn’t have gone any better.

Cowbells again survive SEC vote

DESTIN, Fla. — The cowbell is safe in Davis Wade Stadium for another year.

NCAA Regional pre-game: MSU v Austin Peay

—NCAA Regional at Atlanta

No. 3 MSU (35-23, finished second in the SEC West) v No. 4 Austin Peay (34-22, Ohio Valley Conference champion)

Bulldogs beat Southern Miss 3-0 on Friday to advance in winner’s bracket; Austin Peay beat Georgia Tech 2-1.

Game time: 6:06 p.m. (CDT)

Broadcast: CSS