For Whom the Cowbell Tolls - Super Bulldog Weekend 2015Grindin' Daily for Mississippi State Athleticshttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/50285/fwtct-fav.png2015-04-19T14:20:59-04:00http://www.forwhomthecowbelltolls.com/rss/stream/82039162015-04-19T14:20:59-04:002015-04-19T14:20:59-04:00Anthony Dixon catches a touchdown at MSU spring game<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/YJ_P9m3FtwQ" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe>
<div class="source source-img"><p><p>Anthony Dixon took to Scott Field one more time and scored a touchdown in yesterday's Maroon-White spring football game.</p></p></div>
https://www.forwhomthecowbelltolls.com/2015/4/19/8453269/anthony-dixon-catches-a-touchdown-at-msu-spring-gameCharlie Burris2015-04-19T14:20:02-04:002015-04-19T14:20:02-04:00Open Thread: MSU-Florida Game 3
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<figcaption>Playing in Omaha seems like a looooooong time ago. | Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Can the Bulldogs get one win against Florida? We'll find out at 2pm.</p> <p>Mississippi State has dropped yet another SEC series after losing the first two games to Florida. Today, the Bulldogs will have to try to salvage one game as they face the Gators at 2pm on ESPNU in Starkville.</p>
<p>With the bulk of Super Bulldog Weekend festivities over and with most of the hopes of an NCAA tournament appearance being dashed, it will be interesting to see how the crowd turns out and how the fans react to the game today.</p>
<p>Overall, it has not been a great week for baseball at Mississippi State.</p>
https://www.forwhomthecowbelltolls.com/2015/4/19/8452485/open-thread-mississippi-state-bulldogs-vs-florida-gators-game-3-sec-college-baseballjustinrsutton2015-04-19T09:45:31-04:002015-04-19T09:45:31-04:00Maroon-White Game Recap
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<p>Dak Prescott excelled, Manny Diaz's defense looked solid, and a new mascot was crowned in Mississippi State's annual spring football game.</p> <p>In front of a crowd of 21,500 in Davis Wade Stadium, new men's basketball coach Ben Howland got his first victory at MSU yesterday. Howland was the honorary coach of the White team, which outlasted the Maroon squad 28-24.</p>
<p>Redshirt freshman QB Nick Fitzgerald threw for 255 yards and collected 3 touchdowns as he led the White team to victory. Senior Dak Prescott only played in the first half of the game for the Maroon team but he threw for 231 yards and 3 touchdowns and completed 20 of 29 passes with no interceptions. An impressive outing that did nothing to quell the excitement and expectations for his final season in Starkville.</p>
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<pre>Photo: <a target="_blank" href="http://www.hailstate.com/PhotoAlbum.dbml?SPSID=90889&SPID=10997&DB_LANG=C&PALBID=1456163&DB_OEM_ID=16800">HailState.com</a></pre>
<p>"Everything was good overall, and I feel like everyone got better. I led the other guys, but I also made sure they led. I really feel like we are in the right position we need to be in at this point." Prescott said after the game.</p>
<p>Prescott was sacked 3 times during his short stint in the game, somewhat confirming fears that the offensive line is not as strong as last year's senior-laden unit. On the issue, Prescott said "I think they have come a long way. Communication-wise, they are just as good as our offensive line as last year and athletically and experience is going to come along in fall camp."</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Redshirt freshman Dontavian Lee was the leading rusher on the day with 53 yards on 11 carries and a touchdown. Freshman Aeris Williams had 31 yards on the ground for Maroon and Junior WR De'Runnya Wilson was the game's leading receiver with 92 yards on 5 catches and a touchdown.</p>
<p>Prior to the game, the charged crowd was treated to a meeting with new mascot Bully XXI. His predecessor, Bully XX, "passed the harness" and began a new era for the esteemed mascot.</p>
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<pre>Bully XXI (Photo: <a target="_blank" href="http://www.hailstate.com/PhotoAlbum.dbml?SPSID=90889&SPID=10997&DB_LANG=C&PALBID=1456163&DB_OEM_ID=16800">HailState.com</a>)</pre>
<p>At halftime, Maroon led 24-21. Juco transfer WR Donald Gray provided the White squad with the only touchdown of the second half for either side and it was enough to carry White to victory. Maroon had two chances in the final minutes to take a come-from-behind victory but two turnovers in the redzone sealed the win for White.</p>
<p>Defensively, new faces stepped up and made a big difference. Sophomore J.T. Gray collected 9 tackles, Gerri Green, who is expected to be the heir apparent to Benardrick McKinney looked stout and had 6 tackles. Head coach Dan Mullen said of Green "He is his own player. He is a big guy. McKinney did not look like that when he was a freshman. He understands what type of player he can be if he works hard. He has one of the best work ethics I have been around."</p>
<p>Sophomore Kivon Coman had 8 tackles and former wide receiver Jamoral Graham fit right into his new position at defensive back, making 5 tackles on the day.</p>
<p>And now the rubber meets the road. MSU must take everything that they have learned from spring practices and begin their offseason preparation leading up to pre-season camp in August.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">"We are probably the only sport in the world where the coaches cannot be with the players for the three months leading up to kickoff with a ball on the field." Coach Mullen stated. "You have to have leaders on the team that make sure they are going to improve throughout the summer months."</p>
<p>MSU's football season officially kicks off on September 5th against Southern Miss in Hattiesburg, MS.</p>
https://www.forwhomthecowbelltolls.com/2015/4/19/8451681/maroon-white-game-full-recapCharlie Burris2015-04-19T08:30:02-04:002015-04-19T08:30:02-04:00MSU Drops Game and Series to Tennessee
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<figcaption><a href='http://www.hailstate.com/ViewImage.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=16800&PHOTOID=212854153'>HailState.com</a></figcaption>
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<p>The Bulldogs battled back and forth in exciting fashion with the Lady Vols today but were unable to come away with the win.</p> <p>Mississippi State (31-15, 9-11 SEC) dropped game 2 of their Super Bulldog Weekend series with #12 Tennessee (34-11, 10-7 SEC) by a margin of 5-3 and consequently lost the series this afternoon.</p>
<p>The Lady Vols scored first today in the first inning due to a walked batter, a sac bunt, and a throwing error. Mississippi State came surging back later, in the bottom of the 2<sup>nd</sup>, as the Bulldogs plated 3 runs off of only 1 hit making the score 3-1.</p>
<p>Unfortunately in the top of the 4<sup>th</sup>, Tennessee tied the game up at 3-3 on a 2 run dinger into right field by Lexi Overstreet. This is Tennessee's 2<sup>nd</sup> homerun of the series and it drove in Taylor Koenig, who hit a solo shot last night.In the top of the 6<sup>th</sup>, the Lady Vols would go on to take the lead off of a bases loaded walk. The Lady Vols would extend it by another run on another bases loaded walk. This would go on to be the final score of 5-3.</p>
<p>The Bulldog offense was quieted down and struggled today, as they were only able to get 3 hits through the entire game. MSU matched their total of hits with 3 walks, but they stranded 4 base runners. The base running for State was sporadic today as Loryn Nichols quickly stole 2<sup>nd</sup> base in the bottom of the 2nd and Kayla Winkfield would go on to steal home off of a poor throw to 2<sup>nd</sup>, which would hit Nichols. Unfortunately, Alexis Silkwood was thrown out later in the 4th inning at home on a 2 out single which would end the threat of scoring.</p>
<p>State turned to Mackenzie Toler to start the game off but she was unable to pitch her way out of the first inning, even though she did get a strikeout. Cassady Knudsen then came in and pitched 3.1 innings while throwing 61 pitches to give up 5 hits and 2 earned runs. She would also strike out 2 and walk 1. Holly Ward would take over for her and throw 2.0 innings and also giving up 2 earned runs of her own. Alexis Silkwood came in to pitch the final frame and got 2 strikeouts Ward would be counted with the loss and her record is now 6-3. UT trusted Cheyanne Tarango to pitch a complete game with 113 pitches. She would strikeout 2 batters, walk 3, and give up 3 earned runs.</p>
<p>The two teams will finish the series tomorrow afternoon at 1 PM as Mississippi State attempts to avoid a sweep.</p>
https://www.forwhomthecowbelltolls.com/2015/4/19/8451259/mississippi-state-drops-game-2-and-series-to-12-tennesseeEthanLee2015-04-18T14:15:02-04:002015-04-18T14:15:02-04:00Open Thread: Game 2-Mississippi State vs. Florida
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<figcaption>Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>The Bulldogs will look to bounce back after dropping the series opener to Florida Friday night. </p> <p>Mississippi State coughed up four runs in the first inning, and the Florida Gators never looked back, knocking off the Bulldogs 6-3 Friday night in Starkville. For the Bulldogs, the loss marked the fifth time in six SEC series that the Maroon and White lost the series opener.</p>
<p>Mississippi State now stands at 6-10 in SEC play and 22-17 overall. With the Bulldogs needing something positive, the pressure will be on Mississippi State to pick up wins on Saturday and Sunday.</p>
<p>The Bulldogs will send Austin Sexton (3-3, 3.52 ERA) to the mound to face the Gators. The sophomore's last two starts in SEC play came against Kentucky and Auburn, and both games saw Sexton draw the loss. He did not start against South Carolina or Texas A&M.</p>
<p>Florida will counter by sending Dane Dunning (4-1, 3.19 ERA) to the hill.</p>
https://www.forwhomthecowbelltolls.com/2015/4/18/8449689/open-thread-mississippi-state-bulldogs-no-6-florida-gators-game-two-college-baseballjustinrsutton2015-04-18T09:39:21-04:002015-04-18T09:39:21-04:00MSU Drops Series Opener To Florida 6-3
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<p>Florida scored four runs in the 1st inning and that was too much for the Bulldogs overcome.</p> <p>The #6 Florida Gators (29-10, 10-6 in the SEC) buried Mississippi State (22-17, 6-10 in the SEC) early, batting in four runs in the 1st inning, and the Gators never looked back.</p>
<p>MSU closed the gap in the 4th inning, scoring three runs on a RBI-single by Wes Rea and a two-run double by John Holland. Florida drove in two more runs in the 5th inning and MSU's scoring was stymied for the remainder of the game. Florida's Logan Shore threw a complete game, allowing only 6 hits, collecting 6 strikeouts, and walking none.</p>
<p>Lucas Laster started for the Dawgs but was sat down in the second inning. Levi Mintz, Trevor Fitts, Logan Elliot, Dakota Hudson, and Daniel Brown all saw time on the mound as well. MSU gave up 9 hits in total.</p>
<p>MSU will play its second game against the Gators today at 2 PM.</p>
https://www.forwhomthecowbelltolls.com/2015/4/18/8449413/diamond-dawgs-come-up-short-against-6-florida-6-3Charlie Burris2015-04-18T09:00:02-04:002015-04-18T09:00:02-04:00MSU softball drops game 1 to #12 Tennessee 4-3
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<figcaption><a href='http://www.hailstate.com/ViewImage.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=16800&PHOTOID=212860223'>HailState.com</a></figcaption>
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<p>The Lady Bulldogs opened Super Bulldog Weekend by setting a new total season attendance record tonight in the game 1 loss against Tennessee</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Mississippi State (31-14, 9-10 SEC) started Super Bulldog Weekend off on a slightly sour note as they dropped game 1 of the series with #12 Tennessee (33-11, 9-7 SEC) by 1 run in a score of 4-3. The Lady Bulldogs were able to get 12 hits off of a very good Lady Vol pitching staff, but they stranded 14, which led to plating only 3 runs. Tennessee was slightly more efficient by scoring their 4 runs on 8 hits and 2 errors from MSU.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Although MSU was able to get the first hit of the series in the 1<sup>st</sup> inning, Tennessee got the first score of the weekend on a single home run shot into left field from Taylor Koenig. In fact, that’s pretty much how the first 4 innings of the game went, with MSU out hitting UT by a margin of 7 to 5 while being outscored by the Lady Vols 2-0.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">MSU attempted a late inning comeback, something they’ve become known for the past few weeks of this season. In the bottom of the 5<sup>th</sup>, Alexis Silkwood drove Julia Echols in on a single RBI up the middle to bring the game to 2-1 in UT’s favor. In the bottom of the 6<sup>th</sup>, while the bases were loaded, Mackenzie Toler was walked, bringing in a run to tie the game. Unfortunately, State’s attempt at a rally fell short as an error in the top of the 7<sup>th</sup> while the Lady Vols had loaded the bases helped score 2 runs, and push the game ultimately out of reach. State’s one last shot at a comeback came in the final frame, as Erika Gaul got an RBI double on a powerful hit down the left field line. This brought the game to 4-3 but State failed to score again.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">State turned to Alexis Silkwood, as she pitched yet another complete game. She threw an astonishing 152 pitches while giving up 8 hits and 4 runs, 3 of which were earned. Silkwood walked 5 batters and struck out 3. Her record is now 22-11. Tennessee put Rainey Gaffin in the circle to start and ultimately complete the game. She was relieved for the 6<sup>th</sup> inning by Cheyanne Tarango, but returned to pitch the 7<sup>th</sup>.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Prior to the game, senior 2<sup>nd</sup> baseman Julia Echols was awarded the Newsom Award, which is given to a student-athlete from each sport to recognize them for academic excellence. All of the student-athlete recipients will be recognized together as a group at the Mississippi State Maroon-White spring game at halftime.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">State’s next game against Tennessee has been moved up to 3 P.M. today due to threat of inclement weather.</p>
https://www.forwhomthecowbelltolls.com/2015/4/18/8448905/msu-drops-game-1-to-12-tennesseeEthanLee2015-04-17T18:50:02-04:002015-04-17T18:50:02-04:00Open Thread: MSU vs. No. 6 Florida
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<figcaption>Bruce Thorson-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Coming into the weekend, it feels a bit like the season is on the line as the Bulldogs play host to the No. 6 Florida Gators.</p> <p>After a tough final game against the Texas A&M Aggies, Mississippi State kicks off its huge weekend series against Florida tonight in a 6:30 start at Dudy Noble Field. Mississippi State sends Lucas Laster to mound to face off against Florida's Logan Shore.</p>
<p>Mississippi State currently sits three games below .500 in SEC play, and the Bulldogs' post season hopes remain in doubt. A series win would go a long way to helping Mississippi State salvage the season, and a sweep would help even more.</p>
<p>It all starts with the Friday night matchup against the Gators.</p>
https://www.forwhomthecowbelltolls.com/2015/4/17/8439903/open-thread-mississippi-state-bulldogs-no-6-florida-gators-sec-baseball-collegejustinrsutton