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Mississippi State vs Long Beach State: 2022 SEC Baseball series preview, TV schedule

By Matt Melton

OMAHA, NEBRASKA - JUNE 30: Landon Sims #23 of the Mississippi St. reacts against Vanderbilt in the bottom of the eighth inning during game three of the College World Series Championship at TD Ameritrade Park Omaha on June 30, 2021 in Omaha, Nebraska. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
OMAHA, NEBRASKA - JUNE 30: Landon Sims #23 of the Mississippi St. reacts against Vanderbilt in the bottom of the eighth inning during game three of the College World Series Championship at TD Ameritrade Park Omaha on June 30, 2021 in Omaha, Nebraska. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /
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2022 SEC Baseball Series Preview: No. 4 Mississippi State vs No. 24 Long Beach State

When: Friday, February 18 – Sunday, February 20 on SEC Network+

Location: Dudy Noble Field, Starkville, MS

Defending national champion Mississippi State opens the 2022 SEC Baseball season in a Top 25 matchup at home against the Long Beach State Dirtbags.

Start Times & Probable Starters:

  • Game 1 – Friday, February 18 at 3:00 pm ET
    • Mississippi State – RHP Landon Sims
    • Long Beach State – RHP Luis Ramirez
  • Game 2 – Saturday, February 19 at 3:00 pm ET
    • Mississippi State – RHP KC Hunt
    • Long Beach State – RHP Marques Johnson
  • Game 3 – Sunday, February 20 at 2:00 pm ET
    • Mississippi State – RHP Cade Smith
    • Long Beach State – RHP Juaron Watts-Brown

Coming off a 50-18 season (20-10 in SEC) a year ago, Mississippi State will be tasked with replacing a few key names off last seasons national title winning team, a group that includes Tanner Allen, Will Bednar, and Rowdey Jordan. The Bulldogs will however return a talented roster headlined by Logan Tanner and Luke Hancock, as well as Friday night starter Landon Sims.

While those three will likely play a key role in this weekend series, a few other names such as Lane Forsythe and Kellum Clark will likely play key roles in this series, as well as some of Mississippi State’s newer transfers. Cade Smith will be making the start Sunday coming off an impressive freshman season, while KC Hunt will be starting Saturday after acting solely as a reliever a year ago.

Long Beach State on the other hand will be entering the year ranked as the No. 24 team in the country, as well as the arguable favorite to win the Big West this season. A talented roster headlined by standout closer Devereaux Harrison (1.57 ERA, 10 saves in 2021) and outfielder Chase Luttrell (.316 AVG, 8 HR in 2021), the Dirtbags also return multiple others as well.

Among those options are shortstop Sebastian Murillo and outfielder Alex Pimentel, while multiple others could also see time at other positions during this series such as catchers Connor Burns and Chris Jimenez. Experienced starter Luis Ramirez will start for the Dirtbags on Friday night, while Johnson and Watts-Brown will be making their first start at Long Beach State.

Preseason 2022 SEC Baseball power rankings. dark. Next

A series between two Top 25 teams to begin the 2022 season, this is certainly an immediate test for the defending national champs at home. Mississippi State should win this series however, with a sweep at Dudy Noble a real possibility.

Prediction: Mississippi State 3-0

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