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🏀 Movin’ on
⚾️ Baseball recap
🐶 And much, much more!

Time really does fly.

As Mississippi State baseball gets set to host Texas this weekend to begin the Southeastern Conference portion of the schedule, it’s hard not to think back to the most recent times the Diamond Dawgs and Longhorns tangled almost four years ago.

It kind of feels like yesterday. On MSU’s march to the 2021 National Championship, Texas stood in the way three different times. State’s run to the crown started with Will Bednar’s dominant 15-strikeout performance against the Longhorns and six days later, the Dawgs made sure the College World Series Finals were painted Maroon and White courtesy of Tanner Leggett’s walk-off single that eliminated Texas.

Sure, things have changed since Brayland Skinner slid across home plate in Omaha on Leggett’s clutch knock. Texas is now an SEC foe. The rosters are different.

But much remains the same, and I’m not just talking about how Stone Simmons is still sporting his M-over-S hat.

These are two proud programs again off to strong starts, both of which have the goal every single season to end the year in the state of Nebraska. So, it should be a special weekend, as a CWS feel comes to Starkville with the Longhorns in town.

Let’s take a look at a few notes of interest headed into the showdown:

PICO POWER

In four starts this season, MSU left-handed pitcher Pico Kohn has looked every bit the part of a Friday night ace for the Bulldogs. Kohn faces the Longhorns this weekend averaging an astounding 14.1 strikeouts per nine innings. He’s only issued four walks in 23 2/3 innings pitched. On the league leaderboard, Kohn is tied for second in the SEC in innings pitched, is tied for fourth in strikeouts and is in the top 10 for opposing batting average with foes hitting at just a .160 clip against Kohn.

"[Kohn] came back [to MSU this year] for a reason," State head coach Chris Lemonis said earlier this season. "He really wanted to get better. I think he's the heaviest he's been in his career. I think he's mechanically the strongest he's been in his career. So, I'm excited for him. I think he has an exciting season ahead of him."

HINES HEATING UP

Hunter Hines wasn’t himself at the plate headed into the Astros Foundation Classic in Houston, Texas the weekend before last. But a couple of games off has certainly served to wake up Hines’ big bat. In the week after the Diamond Dawgs left Houston, Hines had eight hits in 19 trips to the dish (.421 batting average). In that span, he had a home run, a double and five RBIs.

“You’ve got to tip your cap to what [Hines has] done the last couple of days,” Lemonis said last Friday after Hines had a three-hit night. “That double off the wall [he had], that’s his old swing. That homer he hit out is staying on the ball and hitting the right way. He’s just been getting to work so I’m happy for him. We need him.”

Hines enters this weekend’s series sitting on 57 career home runs. He’s only 10 round-trippers behind Rafael Palmeiro’s Mississippi State career record and needs just one more long ball to tie Bruce Castoria for third place on the career homer list.

DOWNS DINGERS

Speaking of homers, how about Aaron Downs? The Bulldog senior has a team-leading seven bombs headed into the games against the Longhorns, including back-to-back two-homer games last weekend versus Queens.

It’s certainly been a special start to the season for a guy Lemonis said is probably the most loved kid in the baseball program.

"There have been guys here who were good players early on [in their careers] and then finished with a great year," Lemonis said. "I'm hoping that's what [Downs is] about to do."

📈 STOCK UP

🔼 Tiger Tamers. No. 10 seed Mississippi State men’s basketball dominated against No. 15 seed LSU on Wednesday in its SEC Tournament First Round matchup, winning 91-62 to advance to a Thursday matchup with No. 7 seed Missouri at 6 p.m. in Nashville. Josh Hubbard led the Dawgs with 26 points in 26 minutes, while seven others scored between 7-9 points.

🔼 Biloxi Beauty. Mississippi State baseball extended its win streak to six games on Wednesday, winning 2-1 over Nicholls in its second game of the week in Biloxi. Noah Sullivan made his first start on the mound for the Diamond Dawg and threw three scoreless innings, with Kevin Mannell and Ryan McPherson also contributing scoreless outings.

🔼 Music City Matchup. No. 16 Mississippi State men’s tennis travels to Nashville today for a matchup at Vanderbilt at 3:30 p.m.

The Commodores are 8-7 overall so far this season and 1-4 in SEC play.

🤔 BULLDOG TRIVIA

NCAA Stalwarts. In how many consecutive seasons has Mississippi State men’s tennis qualified for the NCAA Tournament?

Got a guess? 

Scroll to the bottom of the Bulldog Brew to see if you know your stuff!

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📆 LOOKING AHEAD

Thursday, March 13
🎾 Men’s Tennis at Vanderbilt @ 3:30 p.m.
🏀 Men’s Basketball vs. Missouri @ 6 p.m. (SEC Second Round)

Friday, March 14
👟 Track & Field at NCAA Indoor Championships — Virginia Beach, Va.
🎾 Women’s Tennis vs. Florida @ 3 p.m. | Live Video
🥎 Softball at Alabama @ 6 p.m. | SECN+
⚾️ Baseball vs. Texas @ 6 p.m. | SECN+ | Tickets

Saturday, March 15
👟 Track & Field at NCAA Indoor Championships — Virginia Beach, Va.
🎾 Men’s Tennis at Georgia @ noon
🥎 Softball at Alabama @ 2 p.m. | SECN+
⚾️ Baseball vs. Texas @ 2 p.m. | SECN+ | Tickets

Sunday, March 16
🎾 Women’s Tennis vs. Auburn @ noon | Live Video
⚾️ Baseball vs. Texas @ 1 p.m. | SECN+ | Tickets
🥎 Softball at Alabama @ 1:30 p.m. | SECN+
🎾 Women’s Tennis vs. Mississippi Valley State @ 4 p.m. | Live Video

🐶 Click here to see the full Mississippi State Athletics Calendar

🎉 TRIVIA ANSWER

Answer: 13!

🐶 Have a great Thursday, y’all!