2016 Mississippi State Bulldogs baseball team

2016 Mississippi State Bulldogs baseball
Starkville Regional Champions SEC Regular Season Champions
Conference	Southeastern Conference
	Western Division
Ranking
Coaches	No. 4
2016 record	44–18–1 (21–9 SEC)
Head coach	John Cohen (8th year)
Assistant coach	Nick Mingione (4th season)
Assistant coach	Wes Johnson (1st season)
Home stadium	Dudy Noble Field

2016 Southeastern Conference baseball standings
	Conf									Overall
Team	W		L		T		PCT			W		L		T		PCT
Eastern
#12 South Carolina ^x^y	20	–	9	–	0		.690			46	–	18	–	0		.719
#7 Florida ^y	19	–	10	–	0		.655			52	–	16	–	0		.765
#23 Vanderbilt ^y	18	–	12	–	0		.600			43	–	19	–	0		.694
Kentucky	15	–	15	–	0		.500			32	–	25	–	0		.561
Georgia	11	–	19	–	0		.367			27	–	30	–	0		.474
Tennessee	9	–	21	–	0		.300			29	–	28	–	0		.509
Missouri	9	–	21	–	0		.300			26	–	30	–	0		.464
Western
#10 Mississippi State ^x†^y	21	–	9	–	0		.700			44	–	18	–	1		.706
#9 Texas A&M ‡^y	20	–	10	–	0		.667			49	–	16	–	0		.754
#13 LSU ^y	19	–	11	–	0		.633			45	–	21	–	0		.682
Ole Miss ^y	18	–	12	–	0		.600			43	–	19	–	0		.694
Alabama	15	–	15	–	0		.500			32	–	26	–	0		.552
Auburn	8	–	22	–	0		.267			23	–	33	–	0		.411
Arkansas	7	–	23	–	0		.233			26	–	29	–	0		.473
x – Division champion † – Conference champion ‡ – Tournament champion y – Invited to the NCAA Tournament Rankings from Collegiate Baseball

The 2016 Mississippi State Bulldogs baseball team represents the Mississippi State University in the 2016 NCAA Division I baseball season. The Bulldogs play their home games at Dudy Noble Field.

Personnel

Roster

2016 Mississippi State Bulldogs roster
	Pitchers 17 Paul Young - Junior 18 Keegan James - Freshman 20 Jared Padgett - Freshman 23 Austin Sexton - Junior 25 Dakota Hudson - Junior 28 Ryan Cyr - Freshman 31 Ryan Rigby - Sophomore 32 Vance Tatum - Junior 33 Parker Ford - Freshman 34 Kale Breaux - Freshman 38 Trent Waddell - Senior 39 Logan Elliot - Junior 41 Zac Houston - Junior 42 Blake Smith - Junior 44 Ethan Small - Freshman 45 Jacob Billingsley - Sophomore 46 Trysten Barlow - Freshman 47 Myles Gentry - Junior 48 Konnor Pilkington - Freshman 49 Daniel Brown - Freshman 51 Noah Hughes - Freshman		Catchers 9 Elih Marrero - Freshman 16 Josh Lovelady - Senior 35 Jack Kruger - Junior Infielders 6 Luke Alexander - Freshman 10 Ryan Gridley - Sophomore 13 John Holland - Senior Outfielders 5 Mike Smith - Senior 7 Jacob Robson - Junior 19 Brent Rooker - Sophomore 26 Cody Brown - Junior 52 Tanner Poole - Junior 53 Brant Blaylock - Freshman		Utility 2 Hunter Stovall - Freshman 3 Luke Reynolds - Junior 8 Gavin Collins - Junior 12 Reid Humphreys - Junior 14 Cole Gordon - Freshman 15 Jake Mangum - Freshman 36 Nathaniel Lowe - Junior

Coaching staff

2016 Mississippi State Bulldogs baseball coaching staff

John Cohen – Head Coach - 7th year Nick Mingione – Assistant Coach, 7 years at Mississippi State - (4th as AC) Wes Johnson – Assistant Coach - 1st year Lee VanHorn – Coordinator of Baseball Operations - 1st year Will Coggin – Coordinator of Camps - 1st year

Schedule and results

2016 Mississippi State Bulldogs Baseball Game Log
Regular Season (40–14–1)
February (6–2) Date Opponent Rank Site/Stadium Score Win Loss Save TV Attendance Overall Record SEC Record Feb. 19 Florida Atlantic # 11 Dudy Noble Field • Starkville, MS L 6–10 Brandon Rhodes (1–0) Kale Breaux (0–1) none SECN+ 9,413 0–1 – Feb. 20 South Dakota State # 11 Dudy Noble Field • Starkville, MS W 17–4 Keegan James (1–0) Landon Busch (0–1) none SECN+ 1–1 – Feb. 20 Florida Atlantic #11 Dudy Noble Field • Starkville, MS L 0–4 Marc Stewart (1–0) Austin Sexton (0–1) none SECN+ 9,405 1–2 – Feb. 21 South Dakota State #11 Dudy Noble Field • Starkville, MS W 15–5 ^7 Blake Smith (1–0) Eldon Evans (0–1) none SECN+ 6,608 2–2 – Feb. 23 Memphis Dudy Noble Field • Starkville, MS Postponed to 4/13, inclement weather Feb. 26 UMass Lowell Dudy Noble Field • Starkville, MS W 4–2 Dakota Hudson (1–0) Steve Xirinachs (1–0) Blake Smith (1) SECN+ 7,692 3–2 – Feb. 27 Nicholls State Dudy Noble Field • Starkville, MS W 5–0 Austin Sexton (1–1) Cole Stapler (1–1) none 4–2 – Feb. 27 UMass Lowell Dudy Noble Field • Starkville, MS W 4–2 Daniel Brown (1–0) Nick Kuzia (0–1) Reid Humphreys (1) 8,962 5–2 – Feb. 28 Nicholls State Dudy Noble Field • Starkville, MS W 8–0 Zac Houston (1–0) Alex Ernestine (1–1) none 7,438 6–2 –
March (12–5–1) Date Opponent Rank Site/Stadium Score Win Loss Save TV Attendance Overall Record SEC Record Mar. 1 Alcorn State #23 Dudy Noble Field • Starkville, MS W 14–0 Keegan James (2–0) Jahborus Smith (0–1) none SECN+ 5,823 7–2 – Mar. 4 at #21 UCLA #23 Jackie Robinson Stadium • Los Angeles, CA L 1–2 Griffen Canning (2–0) Dakota Hudson (1–1) Brian Gadsby (2) 1,166 7–3 – Mar. 5 vs. USC #23 Jackie Robinson Stadium • Los Angeles, CA W 8–7 Blake Smith (2–0) Mason Perryman (1–1) Kale Breaux (1) 428 8–3 – Mar. 6 vs. Oklahoma #23 Dodger Stadium • Los Angeles, CA T 5–5 none none none 1,543 8–3–1 – Mar. 8 South Alabama #26 Dudy Noble Field • Starkville, MS W 7–3 Ethan Small (1–0) Hunter Soleymani (1–1) none SECN+ 6,761 9–3–1 – Mar. 11 #8 Oregon #26 Dudy Noble Field • Starkville, MS W 10–4 Dakota Hudson (2–1) Cole Irvin (2–1) Vance Tatum (1) SECN+ 6,454 10–3–1 – Mar. 12 #8 Oregon #26 Dudy Noble Field • Starkville, MS W 9–3 Austin Sexton (2–1) Matt Krook (0–1) none SECN+ 6,627 11–3–1 – Mar. 13 #8 Oregon #26 Dudy Noble Field • Starkville, MS W 5–2 Daniel Brown (2–0) David Peterson (2–1) Reid Humphreys (2) SECN+ 6,461 12–3–1 – Mar. 15 Eastern Kentucky #13 Dudy Noble Field • Starkville, MS L 12–16 ^10 Caleb Johnson (2–1) Blake Smith (2–1) none SECN+ 6,878 12–4–1 – Mar. 16 Oral Roberts #13 Dudy Noble Field • Starkville, MS L 1–3 Cale Tims (1–0) Jared Padgett (0–1) Brady Womacks (4) SECN+ 6,404 12–5–1 – Mar. 18 at #2 Vanderbilt #13 Hawkins Field • Nashville, TN W 2–1 ^13 Ryan Rigby (1–0) Matt Ruppenthal (0–1) none SECN 3,626 13–5–1 1–0 Mar. 19 at #2 Vanderbilt #13 Hawkins Field • Nashville, TN W 5–4 Kale Breaux (1–1) Hayden Stone (0–1) Noah Hughes (1) SECN 3,636 14–5–1 2–0 Mar. 20 at #2 Vanderbilt #13 Hawkins Field • Nashville, TN L 6–12 Kyle Wright (4–0) Daniel Brown (2–1) Patrick Raby (1) SECN+ 3,330 14–6–1 2–1 Mar. 22 Mississippi Valley State #11 Dudy Noble Field • Starkville, MS W 16–1 Konnor Pilkington (1–0) Fredrick Spe (1–2) none SECN+ 6,867 15–6–1 – Mar. 24 Georgia #11 Dudy Noble Field • Starkville, MS W 9–2 Dakota Hudson (3–1) Kevin Smith (3–1) none SECN+ 6,895 16–6–1 3–1 Mar. 25 Georgia #11 Dudy Noble Field • Starkville, MS W 3–1 Ryan Rigby (2–0) Drew Moody (0–2) none SECN+ 7,497 17–6–1 4–1 Mar. 26 Georgia #11 Dudy Noble Field • Starkville, MS L 8–11 Bo Tucker (3–1) Daniel Brown (2–2) Blake Cairnes (1) SECN+ 7,512 17–7–1 4–2 Mar. 29 vs. Southern Miss #7 Trustmark Park • Pearl, MS W 13–5 Ryan Rigby (3–0) Cody Livingston (1–2) none 5,982 18–7–1 –
April (12–7) Date Opponent Rank Site/Stadium Score Win Loss Save TV Attendance Overall Record SEC Record April 1 #14 Ole Miss #7 Dudy Noble Field • Starkville, MS W 3–1 Dakota Hudson (4–1) Brady Bramlett (4–2) none SECN+ 10,152 19–7–1 5–2 April 2 #14 Ole Miss #7 Dudy Noble Field • Starkville, MS W 6–2 Austin Sexton (3–1) Chad Smith (2–3) none SECN+ 11,515 20–7–1 6–2 April 3 #14 Ole Miss #7 Dudy Noble Field • Starkville, MS L 5–8 Wyatt Short (2–1) Ryan Rigby (3–1) Will Stokes (3) SECN+ 10,164 20–8–1 6–3 April 5 UT Martin #8 Dudy Noble Field • Starkville, MS Canceled April 5 UT Martin #8 Dudy Noble Field • Starkville, MS W 14–0 Ryan Cyr (1–0) Adam Rimmer (0–1) none SECN+ 7,014 21–8–1 – April 8 at #1 Florida #8 McKethan Stadium • Gainesville, FL L 2–8 Logan Shore (6–0) Dakota Hudson (4–2) none SECN+ 3,927 21–9–1 6–4 April 9 at #1 Florida #8 McKethan Stadium • Gainesville, FL W 10–4 Ryan Rigby (4–1) Alex Faedo (6–1) none SECN+ 6,244 22–9–1 7–4 April 10 at #1 Florida #8 McKethan Stadium • Gainesville, FL W 2–1 Zac Houston (2–0) Dane Dunning (2–2) Reid Humphreys (3) SECN 3,720 23–9–1 8–4 April 13 Memphis #5 Dudy Noble Field • Starkville, MS W 11–1 Kale Breaux (2–1) James Muse (0–3) none SECN+ 7,043 24–9–1 – April 15 #8 Texas A&M #5 Dudy Noble Field • Starkville, MS L 3–10 Brigham Hill (5–0) Dakota Hudson (4–3) none SECN+ 10,032 24–10–1 8–5 April 16 #8 Texas A&M #5 Dudy Noble Field • Starkville, MS L 6–10 Jace Vines (6–0) Austin Sexton (3–2) Mark Ecker (2) SECN+ 15,078 24–11–1 8–6 April 17 #8 Texas A&M #5 Dudy Noble Field • Starkville, MS L 5–10 Mitchell Kilkenny (2–0) Reid Humphreys (0–1) none SECN+ 8,786 24–12–1 8–7 April 20 vs. Louisiana–Monroe #10 MGM Park • Biloxi, MS W 1–0 ^14 Keegan James (3–0) Tyler Schwaner (0–1) none 4,474 25–12–1 – April 22 at #15 LSU #10 Alex Box Stadium • Baton Rouge, LA W 12–8 Dakota Hudson (5–3) Jared Poche' (5–4) Reid Humphreys (4) SECN+ 10,884 26–12–1 9–7 April 23 at #15 LSU #10 Alex Box Stadium • Baton Rouge, LA W 2–1 Austin Sexton (4–2) Alex Lange (4–3) Reid Humphreys (5) ESPNU 11,588 27–12–1 10–7 April 24 at #15 LSU #10 Alex Box Stadium • Baton Rouge, LA L 8–11 Russell Reynolds (1–0) Konnor Pilkington (1–1) none ESPN2 10,034 27–13–1 10–8 April 26† vs. #24 Ole Miss #8 Trustmark Park • Pearl, MS W 2–0 Zac Houston (3–0) Chad Smith (3–4) Jacob Billingsley (1) SECN 8,542 28–13–1 – April 28 at Alabama #8 Sewell–Thomas Stadium • Tuscaloosa, AL W 12–5 Dakota Hudson (6–3) Geoffrey Bramblett (3–3) Blake Smith (2) ESPNU 4,064 29–13–1 11–8 April 29 at Alabama #8 Sewell–Thomas Stadium • Tuscaloosa, AL Postponed to 4/30, inclement weather April 30 at Alabama #8 Sewell–Thomas Stadium • Tuscaloosa, AL L 3–4 ^9 Matt Foster (5–3) Ryan Cyr (1–1) none SECN+ 4,064 29–14–1 11–9 April 30 at Alabama #8 Sewell–Thomas Stadium • Tuscaloosa, AL W 2–1 ^7 Konnor Pilkington (2–1) Nick Eicholtz (3–2) Daniel Brown (1) SECN+ 6,644 30–14–1 12–9
May (10–0) Date Opponent Rank Site/Stadium Score Win Loss Save TV Attendance Overall Record SEC Record May 5 Missouri #8 Dudy Noble Field • Starkville, MS W 8–2 Dakota Hudson (7–3) Reggie McClain (4–3) none SECN 6,630 31–14–1 13–9 May 6 Missouri #8 Dudy Noble Field • Starkville, MS W 4–3 Austin Sexton (5–2) Tanner Houck (4–5) none ESPNU 6,904 32–14–1 14–9 May 7 Missouri #8 Dudy Noble Field • Starkville, MS W 3–1 Daniel Brown (3–2) Michael Plassmeyer (4–5) Reid Humphreys (6) SECN+ 7,614 33–14–1 15–9 May 11 at Troy #7 Riddle–Pace Field • Troy, AL W 7–3 Zac Houston (4–0) Cory Gill (3–3) none 1,488 34–14–1 – May 13 at Auburn #7 Plainsman Park • Auburn, AL W 4–0 Dakota Hudson (8–3) Cole Lipscomb (2–4) none SECN+ 2,899 35–14–1 16–9 May 14 at Auburn #7 Plainsman Park • Auburn, AL W 16–6 Austin Sexton (6–2) Justin Camp (3–4) none SECN 3,228 36–14–1 17–9 May 15 at Auburn #7 Plainsman Park • Auburn, AL W 10–3 Konnor Pilkington (3–1) Casey Mize (2–4) none SECN+ 2,813 37–14–1 18–9 May 19 Arkansas #5 Dudy Noble Field • Starkville, MS W 7–0 Dakota Hudson (9–3) Dominic Taccolini (5–5) none SECN+ 6,822 38–14–1 19–9 May 20 Arkansas #5 Dudy Noble Field • Starkville, MS W 5–1 Austin Sexton (7–2) Isaiah Campbell (3–1) Reid Humphreys (7) SECN+ 7,195 39–14–1 20–9 May 21 Arkansas #5 Dudy Noble Field • Starkville, MS W 9–4 Ryan Rigby (5–1) Jordan Rodriguez (0–1) none SECN 8,421 40–14–1 21–9
Post-Season (4–4)
SEC Tournament (1–2) Date Opponent Rank Site/Stadium Score Win Loss Save TV Attendance Overall Record SECT Record May 25 vs. Alabama #1 Hoover Metropolitan Stadium • Hoover, AL W 4–1 Zac Houston (5–0) Geoffrey Bramblett (5–4) Blake Smith (4) SECN 13,448 41–14–1 1–0 May 26 vs. #9 LSU #1 Hoover Metropolitan Stadium • Hoover, AL L 2–6 Jared Poche' (7–4) Dakota Hudson (9–4) Parker Bugg (4) SECN 11,390 41–15–1 1–1 May 27 vs. #6 Florida #1 Hoover Metropolitan Stadium • Hoover, AL L 2–12 ^7 Alex Faedo (12–1) Austin Sexton (7–3) none SECN 9,429 41–16–1 1–2
NCAA Starkville Regional (3–0) Date Opponent Rank Site/Stadium Score Win Loss Save TV Attendance Overall Record NCAAT Record June 3 Southeast Missouri State #4 Dudy Noble Field • Starkville, MS W 9–5 Daniel Brown (4–2) Joey Lucchesi (10–5) none ESPN3 9,378 42–16–1 1–0 June 4 #23 Cal State Fullerton #4 Dudy Noble Field • Starkville, MS W 4–1 Austin Sexton (8–3) Colton Eastman (8–3) Blake Smith (5) ESPN3 10,656 43–16–1 2–0 June 5 Louisiana Tech #4 Dudy Noble Field • Starkville, MS W 4–0 Zac Houston (6–0) Braden Bristo (5–6) Ryan Rigby (1) ESPN3 9,092 44–16–1 3–0
NCAA Starkville Super Regional (0–2) Date Opponent Rank Site/Stadium Score Win Loss Save TV Attendance Overall Record NCAAT Record June 10 #13 Arizona #4 Dudy Noble Field • Starkville, MS L 0–1 Bobby Dalbec (10–4) Dakota Hudson (9–5) Cameron Ming (2) ESPN2 12,913 44–17–1 3–1 June 11 #13 Arizona #4 Dudy Noble Field • Starkville, MS L 5–6 ^11 Cameron Ming (2–2) Blake Smith (2–1) none ESPNU 13,452 44–18–1 3–2

† Indicates the game does not count toward the 2016 Southeastern Conference standings.
*Rankings are based on the team's current ranking in the Collegiate Baseball poll.

Rankings

Ranking movements
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking. ██ Decrease in ranking.
NR = Not ranked. RV = Received votes. ( ) = First place votes.

	Week
Poll	Pre	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	Final
Coaches'[1]	17	17*	17	23	15	16	12	10	8	11	4	4	4	4	3 6	4	4*	4*	11
Baseball America[2]	20	24	24	24	15	10	5	5	2	7	3	3	3	3	2	4	4*	4*	10
Collegiate Baseball^[3]	11	NR	23	26	13	11	7	8	5	10	8	8	7	5	1	4	4	10	10
NCBWA†[4]	19	24	19	20	14	14	11	8	4	7	3	3	3	3	1	4	4	4*	11

^ Collegiate Baseball ranks 40 teams in their preseason poll, but only ranks 30 teams weekly during the season.
† NCBWA ranks 35 teams in their preseason poll, but only ranks 30 teams weekly during the season.
* New poll was not released for this week so for comparison purposes the previous week's ranking is inserted in this week's slot.

MLB Draft

A school record 11 players were selected in the draft. It is 3rd most in the NCAA for the 2016 season trailing only Texas A&M with 13 and Southern California with 12.^[5]

Player	Position	Round	Overall	MLB Team
Dakota Hudson	RHP	1	34	St. Louis Cardinals
Reid Humphreys	RHP/OF	7	200	Colorado Rockies
Daniel Brown	LHP	7	201	Milwaukee Brewers
Jacob Robson	OF	8	235	Detroit Tigers
Zac Houston	RHP	11	325	Detroit Tigers
Nathaniel Lowe	1B	13	390	Tampa Bay Rays
Gavin Collins	C/3B	13	392	Cleveland Indians
Vance Tatum	LHP	18	553	Kansas City Royals
Austin Sexton	RHP	18	556	St. Louis Cardinals
Jack Kruger	C/DH	20	606	Los Angeles Angels
Brent Rooker†	OF/DH	38	1143	Minnesota Twins

^[6]

† As of July 16, 2016, Brent Rooker intends to return to Mississippi State for the 2017 season after playing in a summer collegiate baseball league in 2016. Brent Rooker had 11 HRs, a 0.578 slugging percentage, and 54 RBI, leading the Bulldogs in all three categories. His 11 HRs were only 3 behind the SEC leader, Ole Miss' J.B. Woodman with 14.^[7][8]

References

1. USA Today Coaches' Poll
2. Baseball America Poll
3. Collegiate Baseball Poll
4. NCBWA Poll
5. Bulldogs Set Program Record With 11 Total MLB Draftees
6. MLB Draft Tracker
7. "MSU baseball update: Rooker returning, Kruger signs professionally". The Commercial Dispatch Publishing Company. 16 July 2016. Retrieved 22 July 2016.
8. 2016 SEC Baseball - Individual Statistics