Good morning! Former Bulldog Nuno Borges picked up a top-10 win at Roland-Garros yesterday!

What else do we have brewing today?

🥎 Consensus All-American
⛳️ All-American nod
🐶 And much, much more!

It’s been said that it’s not how you start, but it’s how you finish that truly matters. You see that play out from time to time in sports, and it has certainly been the case for Mississippi State baseball in 2025.

The Diamond Dawgs will begin postseason play on Friday in the Tallahassee Regional. It’s a spot few predicted MSU would be in when State began the year 1-9 in Southeastern Conference play.

Yet here MSU is, red-hot and playing its best baseball of the year at the best time. The Dawgs won nine of their final 10 ballgames and 14 of their final 20 SEC contests to punch a ticket to the NCAA Tournament.

Interim head coach Justin Parker has been the man at the helm for about a month now. Ahead of leading the Bulldogs into action this weekend, he met with reporters earlier this week to discuss MSU’s mindset and much more.

Here is just a bit of what Parker had to say as his team prepares to try and make a run…

On the mood of the team lately: “When we got back from [the SEC Tournament], it felt like we’d been grinding for a month straight. So, we gave them several days off and got back to the weightroom on Saturday. We had a light workout on Sunday and [Monday]. Seeing where we were going and who we were playing, it gave us a better idea how to prep this week. We had a pretty intensive practice [Monday] and [then the same on Tuesday].”

On if he saw postseason baseball as a reality a month ago: “To be honest, I wasn’t focused on it. I was just trying to think about the next game. When it all happened, our primary focus was on Memphis on that Tuesday night and doing the best job we could individually and collectively to be in a spot to win each game. That was our focus and continues to be our focus.”

On relying on the team’s leaders: “Certainly big-time leaning on them. And it’s the responsibility of the leaders to go into details. The pitching staff is loaded with leaders with Pico Kohn, Karson Ligon and Evan Siary – guys that do the right thing in all areas. The shakeup didn’t deter any of that. Of course, it deterred some of the things emotionally, but the guys got right back to work and continued to push. I think the message was that we still have a lot to play for. The last three weeks to a month, the body of work showcased that those guys were serious, and they’ve done what it takes to be in this position.”

On his knowledge of MSU’s victorious run in the 2018 Tallahassee Regional: “Just that we hope history repeats itself [this year]. This time of year, starting with Hoover, this is the time where baseball can be magical, and moments can be special. We’ve talked a lot about that as a group. Our focus has been mostly about being the best version of ourselves. It hasn’t been about the hay being in the barn, let’s just rest up or we are what we are. It’s been push. Especially after getting a little bit of a breather from Hoover. We try to be in position [to succeed] when we get there. Everybody talks about Florida State and that moment, but we have a really good Northeastern team first and we’re going to have to earn everything.”

On how he’s seen the team handle the last month: “In a lot of ways, as a leader, you’re preaching all of these different idealistic points. Really, the last month, we’ve all had to live them. It’s been a great opportunity for me to learn and grow. The guys embodied the resilience and toughness to take a bad situation and grow from it individually and as a group. They’re going to be required to do that the rest of their life in sports or beyond sports. We just try to have fun with it, continue to work and push and understand that we have a lot to play for. They should be proud of themselves considering all things.”

On the teams that’ll be at the Tallahassee Regional: “Starting with Northeastern, on paper, it’s one of the most complete teams in the country. They defend at an incredibly high level. They pitch and make you earn everything. It’s a deep pitching staff. Sometimes you face a mid-major team, and they have four or five [pitchers]. This team has 10 or 11 guys, and it’s really good stuff. We’re going to have our hands full with them. Offensively, they’re up-tempo. There are a lot of stolen bases, and they can turn a two-run lead into a five-run lead. They’re very opportunistic. They’re very athletic. They’re old on the mound, and they’re very old and experienced as position players. It’s a predominantly right-handed hitting lineup. Of course, they’re as hot as anybody in the country – 27 [wins] in a row is quite the feat. They’re very complete, well-coached and hard-nosed.

“Florida State has hosted more regionals and been in this position more than anybody in the country. I’ve got great respect for [FSU head coach Link Jarrett] and what he’s done. They have arguably the best combination of position player and starting pitcher of anybody in the country with [Alex Lodise] and [Jamie Arnold].

“We’re focused on Northeastern. We’ll start taking a look at Florida State and Bethune Cookman [later], but that’s where we’re at right now from a scouting report.”

Mississippi State’s first game of the Tallahassee Regional is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. CT on Friday against Northeastern, and the game will be streamed via ESPN+. The Bulldogs will then face either host Florida State or Bethune Cookman on Saturday with game time and opponent determined by Friday’s results. The regional will continue on Sunday, and potentially Monday, if necessary.

(Coleman’s Corner is brought to you each Thursday by Mississippi State athletics senior writer Joel Coleman. A 2007 and 2009 graduate of Mississippi State, Coleman has worked inside and around MSU sports for nearly two decades with prior stops also including the Starkville Daily News and Sports Illustrated.)

📈 STOCK UP

🔼 It’s A Consensus! Mississippi State softball’s Sierra Sacco was named a First Team All-American by the NFCA on Wednesday, officially earning consensus All-American status in the process! She joins Bulldog legend Mia Davidson as the only players in school history to be recognized by three different outlets in the same season.

🔼 Stellar Sophomore Season. Mississippi State women’s golf’s Avery Weed earned All-American status this week, with the Women’s Golf Coaches Association naming the sophomore to the honorable mention list!

🤔 BULLDOG TRIVIA

Low Scores. What was Avery Weed’s scoring average this season for Mississippi State women’s golf?

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, May 29
👟 Track & Field at NCAA East First Round (Jacksonville, Fla.)

Friday, May 30
👟 Track & Field at NCAA East First Round (Jacksonville, Fla.)
⚾️ Baseball vs. Northeastern @ 6:30 p.m. (Tallahassee Regional)

Saturday, May 31
👟 Track & Field at NCAA East First Round (Jacksonville, Fla.)
⚾️ Baseball at Tallahassee Regional @ TBA

🐶 Click here to see the full Mississippi State Athletics Calendar

🎉 TRIVIA ANSWER

Answer: 71.67!

🐶 Have a great Thursday, y’all!