Tag Archives: Vanderbilt

25 Mar

gut punch

If getting swept at Kentucky last weekend was cause for concern at Mississippi State, what happened on Friday night at Dudy Noble Field might be cause for panic. Vanderbilt run-ruled the Bulldogs 26-3. State used six pitchers, and none were particularly effective. Vandy’s hitters had a blast. Enrique Bradfield started the game with a home run. Parker Noland hit two grand slams and tied an SEC record with 11 RBIs. R.J. Schreck hit two bombs and drove in eight runs. Meanwhile, Bulldogs batters managed just six hits and struck out eight times in the seven-inning affair. But the offense really isn’t a big problem. Pitching and defense are. State’s staff ERA is now 6.09, worst in the SEC. Statistically, the Bulldogs are also the worst fielding team in the league. “I got to figure out some different things to help these kids out,” said State coach Chris Lemonis, who led a very different bunch to a national title two years ago. Getting back on the right track against Vandy, a consensus top five team that swept Ole Miss last weekend, might be a tall order. The next two days in Starkville will be interesting, to say the least.

27 Jun

when last we met …

Back in April, which seems like such a long time ago, College World Series finalists Mississippi State and Vanderbilt hooked up in Nashville for an SEC series. The Commodores, behind the pitching of Ace 1A Kumar Rocker and the lesser known duo of Chris McElvain and Nick Maldonado, took two of three from the Bulldogs. Rocker pitched a three-hitter in the opener and McElvain and Maldonado provided stout relief in the rubber game in which State couldn’t hold an early 4-0 lead. State’s win in Game 2 was an eye-opener, as Will Bednar, with a big assist from Landon Sims, beat Vandy’s other ace, Jack Leiter, who hadn’t lost a game in his Vandy career. Rowdey Jordan and Logan Tanner homered off Leiter. The pitching matchups for the best-of-3 CWS finals, which start Monday, haven’t been announced, though it’s a good bet Leiter will start the opener. How much should be made of the April meeting? It can’t be totally dismissed, but, of course, the stakes are little different this week. And then there’s the atmosphere. The biggest crowd at Vandy’s Hawkins Field during the April series was 1,407, very few of them State fans. TD Ameritrade Park in Omaha will be a sea of maroon. Think it’ll make a difference?

15 May

a glimpse?

It’s not hard to imagine seeing, a few years down the road, in a major league stadium, a rematch of the duel that took place on Friday night in Oxford. Two highly regarded MLB draft prospects — Ole Miss’ Doug Nikhazy and Vanderbilt’s Kumar Rocker — went toe-to-toe in a scouts’ delight before a wild and crazy crowd at Swayze Field. Nikhazy got the win this time, holding second-ranked Vandy to five hits and two walks with 10 strikeouts over seven innings in a 3-1 victory. Rocker also went seven, allowing five hits (including homers by Kevin Graham and TJ McCants) and one walk with eight K’s. The big right-hander lost for just the second time against 11 wins. His ERA rose to 2.44. With Gunnar Hoglund out for the year with an arm injury, Ole Miss, ranked 17th by Baseball America, needs more stuff like this from lefty Nikhazy (7-2, 1.89 ERA) with the SEC Tournament and NCAAs ahead. In MLB Pipeline’s latest prospect rankings, the 6-foot Nikhazy, who relies more on breaking stuff than an overpowering fastball, checked in at No. 100. The 6-4 Rocker, who throws very hard, was No. 3. They certainly didn’t look that far apart on Friday night.

18 Jun

fear factor?

The way Mississippi State is playing, it’s unlikely the Bulldogs are going to be intimidated by anyone. But if any team in the country has a fear factor on its side, it’s Vanderbilt, State’s opponent tonight in the College World Series. Vandy, the SEC regular season and tournament champion, is the No. 2 overall seed in the NCAA Tournament, is ranked No. 1 in one national poll, has won 15 of its last 16 games, has set a school record with 55 victories and, most significantly for tonight, is sending to the mound a touted freshman right-hander who appears to be peaking. Kumar Rocker is an imposing 6 feet 4, 255 pounds and can touch 98 mph with his fastball. He has won his last three starts, beating LSU in the SEC Tournament, Indiana State in the Nashville Regional and Duke in a must-win Super Regional game. That was the 19-strikeout no-hitter you might’ve heard about. Rocker, son of former Auburn and NFL star Tracy Rocker, was one of the top recruits – and pro prospects — in the country last year. He was not an immediate success at Vandy. He got shelled in his college debut and lost his first SEC start. He has had other rough spots, as his 10-5 record and 3.50 ERA would suggest. But the Super Regional no-no generated national fame and certainly raised expectations. As Vandy coach Tim Corbin told the Nashville Tennessean: “I know when you pitch like that one time there’s a certain level of anticipation. But he’ll handle it well.” The Bulldogs are one of the best hitting teams in the country, making for a most intriguing matchup. P.S. Here’s an obscure Mississippi connection in Omaha (as noted by Doug Shanks): Michigan coach Erik Bakich played for the Greenville Bluesmen in the old Texas-Louisiana League. A third baseman, Bakich played nine games for the independent club in 2001 during his brief pro career. His Wolverines are 2-0 in the bracket opposite State’s.

21 Mar

armed to the teeth

If you have an itch for pitching, this weekend’s Vanderbilt-Mississippi State series is for you. Here are the matchups: Tonight, MSU’s Preston Brown (0.75 ERA) vs. Vandy’s Tyler Beede (0.84); Saturday, Ross Mitchell (1.50) vs. Jared Miller (0.57) in a battle of lefties; and Sunday, Trevor Fitts (3.55) vs. Tyler Ferguson (1.63). Oh, and both teams have excellent closers, too (Jonathan Holder and Brian Miller). The Commodores, who always seem to have great pitching, come to Dudy Noble Field in Starkville with a 19-3 record (2-1 SEC) and ranked as high as No. 3. The Bulldogs, also ranked, are 15-8 and 2-1. Runs will be at a premium, which usually makes for high drama.