Final Series in the Old Dudy Noble Field

Unless a 2007-like scenario happens where the Bulldogs host a super regional as a two seed, the final week of games at the current incarnation of Dudy Noble Field took place this past week.  The week started with a win over Troy in the White "State" Pinstripes.  That was the end of the week's good fortune, however, as the Bulldogs lost a close game on Thursday and then struggled on the mound in losses on Friday and Saturday.  They wore the Maroon MS over White combo on Thursday and Friday.  On Saturday, they wore the inverted White 85 jerseys for the first time since April 9th against Kentucky.  It was the second season in the row that the jerseys had been worn in the last game of the regular season; last year they were worn in the SEC-clinching win over Arkansas.

By getting swept, the Bulldogs fell to 17-13, good for third in the SEC West and fifth in the SEC. Not as high a finish as last season, but much better than I think most expected.  The Bulldogs will be the 5 seed in the SEC Tournament and will play against the 12 seed, Georgia, for a chance to advance to the double elimination round.  It's the third time in 5 years that the Bulldogs have been the 5 seed in the tournament; the last five years, they've either been the 1 seed (2016), not in the tournament (2015), or the 5 seed (2013, 2014, and 2017). Below are the final 2017 Standings and SEC Tournament Bracket.

There was a new addition to the jerseys of four Bulldog players this past week.  #16 Josh Lovelady, #19 Brent Rooker, #26 Cody Brown, and #45 Jacob Billingsley all graduated and became eligible for the SEC Graduate patch, a program that was started during football season this past fall.  These are the first four Mississippi State baseball players to ever wear the patch.

This weekend was also the last home weekend for 5th year senior #26 (Downtown) Cody Brown.  Brown was redshirted during the 2013 Omaha run and has played significantly every season since 2014.  As a result, I am fairly certain that Brown has worn more uniform combinations than any player in Mississippi State baseball history. Only counting games in which he has made an appearance, Brown has worn 42 different uniform combinations as a Bulldog.

Uniform Models for the final week of regular season games at the old Dudy Noble Field:

Tuesday vs Troy- White Pinstripes- #15 Jake Mangum
Thursday vs LSU - Maroon MS over White - #10 Ryan Gridley
Friday vs LSU - Maroon MS over White- #2 Hunter Stovall
Saturday vs LSU - White 85- #19 Brent Rooker