STARKVILLE — The Mississippi State baseball team spent an offseason wondering what it would do at first base, given the burden of replacing a Southeastern Conference Triple Crown winner. It even went as far as to experiment with an outfielder there. Two days into the season, freshman Josh Hatcher seemed like the obvious answer, as his two games featured six hits, two RBIs and a home run.
Two weeks later, he was a healthy scratch for two of MSU’s three games of a weekend stint in Houston. MSU’s ensuing two games proved why it was just a temporary move.
After missing those two games in Houston, Hatcher had a total of four hits and one RBI in the two midweek games against New Mexico State, both wins. His position as MSU’s starting first baseman looks solidified as the Bulldogs (8-5) play their first home weekend series beginning 3 p.m. Friday (SEC Network+) with a doubleheader against Utah Valley (4-7).
“He needed to relax a little bit,” MSU interim coach Gary Henderson said before the two games against New Mexico State. “He’s a really good player that’s going to be playing a lot of baseball here. Josh Hatcher is going to be back in the lineup soon and he’s going to be a very good player at Mississippi State.”
That proved to be true, as Hatcher got back to form against the Aggies. Hatcher’s start made him one of college baseball’s best through three games — his worst game still saw him reach base twice — with a .545 average. He continued to hit through the next weekend until a lull struck: three games with 13 at-bats, all hitless. Only after a start like Hatcher’s could a season batting average of .297 call for a recalibration; in hindsight, Hatcher knows it was necessary.
“Yeah, I did (need it). It was a great call by the coaching staff,” Hatcher said. “Being a freshman and getting off to the start, I guess I got into a mental battle with myself. I needed to get back to playing my game.
“I just went back and thought about how much fun I was having in the great start I got off to, being a great teammate, playing the game the right way.”
The result of that time off to recalibrate mentally was a Hatcher resembling the one that dominated in the series against Southern Mississippi. Against New Mexico State, Hatcher went 4-9 with one RBI, one run scored and the first stolen base of his MSU career. Still, Henderson sees room for growth: Hatcher’s four strikeouts in two games against the Aggies was a continuation of an issue from his slump, when he struck out three times in back-to-back games after a two-strikeout game.
After just two strikeouts in his first four games, Hatcher has collected 12 in his last five.
“Like all of our young guys, it’s a constant learning experience for those guys: he had a couple of really good at-bats (Wednesday) and a couple of at-bats I think he’d like to have over,” Henderson said.
It’s possible the strikeouts are a result of the same habit that caused the first mental break: “I tried to do too much,” Hatcher said.
The Friday doubleheader is MSU’s reaction to expected rain on Saturday; Sunday’s series finale remains scheduled for 1 p.m.
Follow Dispatch sports writer Brett Hudson on Twitter @Brett_Hudson
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