Opinion: Last Week Looked Like Rock Bottom for Mississippi State Baseball

The Bulldogs had an embarrassing 2-3 record against non-conference competition, which is supposed to be the easiest part of the schedule.

STARKVILLE, Miss. — The Mississippi State Bulldogs have failed to make the postseason two straight years. Still, after losses to Austin Peay and getting embarrassed by Georgia Southern on your home diamond, this program hit rock bottom.

The Bulldogs had a very anti-climatic first weekend against Air Force that saw them lose the Saturday game, but there was optimism this team would be better; however, it would not take long for that positive enegry to be destroyed.

The Bulldogs lost 3-2 to Austin Peay on Tuesday night, and it was an abysmal offensive game for MSU. No disrespect to the Governors, but like most teams, their mid-week starter needs developing, especially the Tuesday starter, their everyday right fielder.

Lyle Miller-Green pitched five innings and allowed only two runs on four hits, and the bullpen dominated by not allowing a hit the rest of the game. The Wednesday game was no better as MSU seemingly had things in control as they led 10-6 going into the eighth, but Austin Peay battled back, scoring seven runs in the eighth and ninth innings, including four runs off Mississippi State closer Cam Schuelke.

Last year, the Bulldogs' struggles mainly landed on the shoulders of MSU pitching coach Scott Foxhall, who was fired during the season. Head coach Chris Lemonis subsequently hired former South Carolina pitching coach Justin Parker this past summer, and the staff looks much improved.

However, now the offense is struggling despite having two All-SEC-type players in Dakota Jordan and Hunter Hines. If there is one thing true about losing programs they will always find ways to snatch defeat out of the jaws of victory, and the Bulldogs do a great job of that.

Losing to an SEC team is not excusable, but it is understandable. But getting swept by Austin Peay is something that should never happen.

At least the Bulldogs bounced back somewhat with a solid 5-1 win on Friday against Georgia Southern.

However, MSU followed that up with an ugly performance on Saturday. The Eagles jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the first, and from then on, the Bulldogs batters looked defeated at the plate and did not score a run from the sixth inning on.

The attendance for the Saturday game was 12,323 and that crowd was silent as MSU trailed, followed by light reactions to every play good or bad. This program has gotten to the point where fans expect something to go wrong, and everyone knows the end result of this season.

Apathy has already set into a season that is only eight games deep, and while there may be big crowds at Dudy Noble later this spring, it will not be to watch the game. It will be to just enjoy the scenery and ballpark. In 2019-2021, the “New Dude” was a rocking environment, hailed as the best in college baseball. Nowadays, opponents aren't intimidated, and backs are regularly seen in the stands as the crowd heads out early. 

The financial effort from MSU to this program supersedes most of its SEC peers, but the on-field results no longer match that commitment. It makes one wonder how much longer will school officials be content with fans having a good time in the outfield and having an empty ballpark in June.

The Bulldogs sit at 4-4, and their non-conference schedule is not very tough. The SEC slate is nothing short of brutal, yet it's already clear that MSU will need a major turnaround to make the postseason.

What Stood Out this Weekend for Mississippi State Baseball against Georgia Southern