Shifting gears a little from MSU football to baseball, the Diamond Dogs got a big commitment today via Twitter from Itawamba Community College pitcher Ben Hudspeth.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Very excited to announce my commitment to Mississippi State! <a href="https://twitter.com/search/%23hailstate">#hailstate</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/search/%23themdawgs">#themdawgs</a></p>— Ben Hudspeth (@benhudspeth) <a href="https://twitter.com/benhudspeth/status/244561570875707392" data-datetime="2012-09-08T22:23:16+00:00">September 8, 2012</a></blockquote>

Hudspeth, a 2011 graduate of Tupelo High School, was named a 2012 first-team All-American by the National Junior College Athletic Association in June. He concluded his freshman season with the Indians with an 11-0 record with a stagering 1.82 ERA. He also notched 65 strikeouts and one save in 74 innings. He was actually only one of two freshmen on the 12-member first-team and one of six freshmen out of 36 players selected as All-Americans. Read and watch more about Ben and his summer award here. (Special thanks to Adam Gore and the ICC Sports Information Department.)

"I'm really excited to have the opportunity to live my dream," Hudspeth told FWtCT.com earlier tonight via text.

MSU finished 40-24 last season with an SEC tournament championship and a trip to the Tallahassee Regional before losing to Samford (twice) and defeating UAB.