Chris Lemonis and the Mississippi State baseball team are gearing up to take on the Auburn Tigers this weekend in what is (but shouldn’t be) a pretty critical home series for the MSU Bulldogs.
The 2024 Miss. State baseball season has been full of ups and downs and the Bulldogs theoretically still have a good shot at making this into a good season, but there’s still potential for it to get ugly in a hurry.
Which is not what we’d like to see.
Both teams are looking to improve their standings in the highly competitive SEC, and this series could prove pivotal for their postseason aspirations (more so for MSU than Auburn, but the Tigers could sneak into a decent spot in Hoover given the way some other SEC baseball teams are struggling right now).
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Why this Mississippi State baseball series matters:
Coming into this series in Starkville against the Auburn Tigers, the MSU Bulldogs (23-14, 7-8 SEC) are currently tied for 7th in the SEC baseball standings and need a strong showing against Auburn to keep pace in the race for a decent spot in the the 2024 NCAA baseball tournament.
Meanwhile, the Auburn Tigers (19-17, 2-13 SEC) are desperately seeking to turn their season around and avoid falling completely out of the picture for the 2024 SEC baseball tournament.
By the numbers:
- Mississippi State boasts a .282 team batting average, led by Dakota Jordan’s .377 mark, 15 home runs, and 51 RBIs.
- The Bulldogs’ pitching staff has a combined 4.35 ERA, with starters Khal Stephen (2.84 ERA) and Jurrangelo Cijntje (3.80 ERA) leading the way.
- Auburn’s offense has hit 61 home runs on the season, compared to MS State baseball’s 41.
- The Tigers’ pitching has struggled with a 6.12 team ERA
What to watch in Miss. State baseball vs. Auburn:
- The battle between MSU’s starting pitching and Auburn’s power-hitting lineup.
- Are the Bulldogs prepared to slow the Tigers down? Can MSU keep up with the way Auburn hits home runs?
- How Miss. State baseball’s bullpen will handle high-pressure situations.
- What happened last weekend against the Ole Miss Rebels absolutely could not happen again this weekend if Mississippi State is going to get a series win.
The big picture for the MSU Bulldogs:
With only a few weeks left in the regular season, every game counts for teams looking to make a push for the postseason. That includes Lemonis and his Miss. State baseball team. Right now, the MSU Bulldogs have an opportunity to solidify their position in the SEC standings and build momentum heading into the final stretch.
On the other side of this, for Butch Thompson and his Auburn baseball team, this MSU baseball series represents a chance to turn the tide and prove they can compete with the various other teams in the conference. So far, the Tigers haven’t done much of that this season.
Mississippi State baseball fans should enter into this one expecting an exciting weekend of action at Dudy Noble Field as the Bulldogs look to defend their home turf against the Auburn Tigers. This should be a straightforward series win for Lemonis and the MSU Bulldogs. But, we’ll see how it all plays out.
How to watch Mississippi State baseball series vs. Auburn Tigers
Here’s everything you need to keep up with the Bulldogs as they welcome the Auburn Tigers to Starkville.
2024 MS State baseball schedule: MSU Bulldogs vs. Auburn Tigers
- Game 1: Friday, 6 p.m.
- Game 2: Saturday, 5 p.m.
- Game 3: Sunday, 1 p.m.
Mississippi State vs. Auburn Tigers: TV channel
- Game 1: SEC Network+
- Game 2: SEC Network
- Game 3: SEC Network+
The Underdog Tribune 
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