2016 Mississippi State Bulldogs baseball team

2016 Mississippi State Bulldogs baseball
Conference	Southeastern Conference Western Division
2016 record	31–14–1 (13–9 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
#2 South Carolina	15	–	5	–	0		.750			34	–	9	–	0		.791
#1 Florida	14	–	6	–	0		.700			37	–	7	–	0		.841
#6 Vanderbilt	13	–	8	–	0		.619			34	–	10	–	0		.773
#28 Kentucky	11	–	10	–	0		.524			27	–	17	–	0		.614
Missouri	7	–	14	–	0		.333			24	–	21	–	0		.533
Georgia	7	–	14	–	0		.333			22	–	23	–	0		.489
Tennessee	6	–	15	–	0		.286			24	–	21	–	0		.533
Western
#5 Texas A&M	14	–	7	–	0		.667			35	–	9	–	0		.795
#8 Mississippi State	12	–	9	–	0		.571			30	–	14	–	1		.678
#26 Ole Miss	12	–	9	–	0		.571			33	–	12	–	0		.733
#27 LSU	11	–	10	–	0		.524			28	–	16	–	0		.636
Alabama	10	–	11	–	0		.476			25	–	20	–	0		.556
Arkansas	7	–	14	–	0		.333			26	–	18	–	0		.591
Auburn	7	–	14	–	0		.333			20	–	24	–	0		.455
‡ – Tournament champion As of May 2, 2016[1]; 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
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 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 W 17–4 Keegan James (1–0) Landon Busch (0–1) none SECN+ 1–1 – Feb. 20 Florida Atlantic #11 Dudy Noble Field 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 W 15–5 ^7 Blake Smith (1–0) Eldon Evans (0–1) none SECN+ 6,608 2–2 – Feb. 23 Memphis Dudy Noble Field Postponed to 4/13, inclement weather Feb. 26 UMass Lowell Dudy Noble Field 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 W 5–0 Austin Sexton (1–1) Cole Stapler (1–1) none 4–2 – Feb. 27 UMass Lowell Dudy Noble Field 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 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 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 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 W 8–7 Blake Smith (2–0) Mason Perryman (1–1) Kale Breaux (1) 428 8–3 – Mar. 6 vs. Oklahoma #23 Dodger Stadium T 5–5 none none none 1,543 8–3–1 – Mar. 8 South Alabama #26 Dudy Noble Field 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 Canceled April 5 UT Martin #8 Dudy Noble Field 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 Postponed to 4/30, inclement weather April 30 at Alabama #8 Sewell–Thomas Stadium 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 W 2–1 ^7 Konnor Pilkington (2–1) Nick Eicholtz (3–2) Daniel Brown (1) SECN+ 6,644 30–14–1 12–9
May (1–0) Date Opponent Rank Site/Stadium Score Win Loss Save TV Attendance Overall Record SEC Record May 5 Missouri #8 Dudy Noble Field W 8–2 Dakota Hudson (6–3) Reggie McClain (4–3) none SECN 6,630 31–14–1 13–9 May 6 Missouri #8 Dudy Noble Field – ESPNU – – May 7 Missouri #8 Dudy Noble Field – SECN+ – – May 11 at Troy Riddle–Pace Field – – – May 13 at Auburn Plainsman Park – SECN+ – – May 14 at Auburn Plainsman Park – SECN – – May 15 at Auburn Plainsman Park – SECN+ – – May 19 Arkansas Dudy Noble Field – SECN+ – – May 20 Arkansas Dudy Noble Field – SECN+ – – May 21 Arkansas Dudy Noble Field – SECN – –
Post-Season
SEC Tournament Date Opponent Rank Site/Stadium Score Win Loss Save TV Attendance Overall Record SECT Record May 24 or 25 TBD Hoover Metropolitan Stadium • Hoover, AL

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

^ 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.

References

1. "Baseball Standings". Retrieved May 2, 2016.
2. USA Today Coaches' Poll
3. Baseball America Poll
4. Collegiate Baseball Poll
5. NCBWA Poll