2008 Mississippi State Bulldogs baseball team

The 2008 Mississippi State Bulldogs baseball team represented Mississippi State University in the NCAA Division I baseball season of 2008. The team was coached by Ron Polk, in his 35th year as a collegiate head coach, and his 29th at Mississippi State. During mid-season, Coach Polk announced he would resign effective at the conclusion of the season. Following the conclusion of the season, former MSU standout and University of Kentucky Head Baseball coach John Cohen was announced by incoming AD Greg Bryne as the new Mississippi State Baseball Coach for 2009.

2008 Mississippi State Bulldogs baseball
ConferenceSoutheastern Conference
DivisionWest
Record23-33 (9-21 SEC)
Head coach
Hitting coachTommy Raffo
Pitching coachRuss McNickle
Home stadiumDudy Noble Field
2008 Southeastern Conference baseball standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L PCTW L PCT
Eastern
No. 2 Georgia xy 209 .6904525 .643
Florida y 1713 .5673424 .586
No. 25 Kentucky y 1614 .5334419 .698
Vanderbilt y 1514 .5174122 .651
South Carolina y 1515 .5004023 .635
Tennessee   1218 .4002729 .482
Western
No. 6 LSU xy 1811 .6214919 .721
Alabama y 1614 .5333528 .556
Ole Miss y 1515 .5003926 .600
Arkansas y 1415 .4833424 .586
Auburn   1119 .3672828 .500
Mississippi State   921 .3002333 .411
x Division champion
Conference champion
Tournament champion
y Invited to the NCAA tournament
As of June 30, 2008[1]
Rankings from Coaches' Poll

Pre-season

The 2008 version of the Mississippi State Bulldogs Baseball team were looking to build on the success of the 2007 MSU Baseball Campaign after advancing to the College World Series. Based upon the achievements the year before, the recruiting class of 2008 was ranked 26th by Collegiate Baseball[2] The team was predicted to finish second in the SEC West Mississippi State was ranked 24th in the preseason NCBWA poll,[3] 23rd in the USA Today/ESPN Coaches Poll,[4] and 19th in the Rivals.com preseason poll[5]

Infielder Brandon Turner was named to the 2008 preseason Louisville Slugger TPX 2008 All-America second team[6] and to the Golden Spikes Award preseason watch list.[7] Pitcher Aaron Weatherford was named to the preseason watch list for the NCWBA Stopper of the Year Award.[8] Turner and Weatherford were both named to the preseason watch list for the 2008 Brooks Wallace Award.[9]

Roster and Stats

Coaches

Name Title First Season at MSU Alma Mater
Ron Polk[10] Head coach 1976 Grand Canyon College (1965)
Russ McNickle[11] Assistant coach 2002 University of South Alabama (1988)
Tommy Raffo[12] Assistant coach 1998 Mississippi State University (1990)
Wade Hedges[13] Volunteer Assistant Coach 2004 Florida Southern College (1996)

Players

#PlayerPosBTYRHometownGABHAVGHRRBIBBSBFLD%
2Brandon Turner2BLRSOCleveland, TN8235.21714001.000
3Grant HogueOFSRJRHattiesburg, MS5519763.3200132125.943
5Russ Sneed3B/SSRRSOSenatobia, MS5621559.274226315.940
7Ryan PowersSS/2BRRFRBeacon, NY409222.239010120.944
8Brooks LewisCRRJRHeidelberg, MS23174.2350230.980
11Tyler Moore1BRRJRBrandon, MS5620461.2991446215.982
13Jet ButlerSS/2BSRSOPensacola, FL5518149.271124160.953
14Ryan DuffyCLRSOWest Melbourne, FL4212137.30672540.980
15Mark GoforthOFLRJRCovington, TN4610131.3070101231.000
16Will Coggin2BRRJRBooneville, MS840.00001101.000
18Jason NappiOFRRFRBirmingham, AL5319754.274837321.897
19Andy RiceOFLLSRAmory, MS316116.2621980.972
20Nick HardyOFRRJRFlora, MS.497620.263213142.950
23Cade HoggardOFRRSOOxford, MS20181.05600501.000
25Connor Powers3BRRSONaperville, IL3513547.3481138182.915
26Scott DeLoachCRRJRMadison, MS5111.00000001.000
27Jeff FlaggOFRRJRJacksonville, FL34509.18016901.000
29Cody FreemanCRRFRCollinsville, MS3811636.3102201511.000
36Johnny AllenCRRJRGrenada, MS224712.2550540.979
38Ryan CollinsOFLLFRCallaway, FL4311941.345323263.983
45Michael BusbyP/SSRRFRVicksburg, MS343.75001001.000

Pitchers

#PlayerTYrHometownGGSIPWLSVERAHBBSOFLD%
4Forrest MooreLFRBaton Rouge, LA19445.11208.14523946.900
6Justin PigottLSRPicayune, MS9944.22305.045116441.000
9Greg HoustonRSOHoover, AL14225.20107.364416181.000
10Andy WilsonLSRColumbus, GA16135.03005.66401327.778
12Tyler WhitneyLSOLakeland, TN10520.002010.802919201.000
17Chad CrosswhiteRJRBrandon, MS191153.13509.96822736.909
24Jared KoonRJRTupelo, MS201.200010.802101.000
30John LalorRSRGermantown, TN21242.13313.193814561.000
31Ricky BowenRSOJasper, AL151373.13607.61844164.889
32Aaron WeatherfordRJRCrystal Springs, MS18031.23170.851010621.000
34Jesse CarverLSRStarkville, MS15233.21109.095714271.000
35Jared WessonLJRTupelo, MS714.201019.297123--
41Lee SwindleRJREupora, MS11435.12306.375214131.000
44Drew HollingheadRSOLeakesville, MS6210.01106.308951.000
45Michael BusbyRFRVicksburg, MS19037.01405.843929301.000

These players are on the roster, but did not appear in a game and were redshirted.

#PlayerPosBTYRHometown
28Shawn MarquardtPRLFRCarmel, IN
33Paxton PaceP/2BRLFRCollinsville, MS
42Brent BrownleeOFRRFROxford, MS
48Luke AdkinsOFLLJRNettleton, MS
49Sean JohnsonOFRRJRSenatobia, MS
50Ryan RubinoSS/2BRRFRBradenton, FL
51Bobby Triglia3B/CRRFRJacksonville, FL

Schedule and results

2008 Game Log
Regular Season
#DateOpponentScoreSite/stadiumWinLossSaveAttendanceRecordSEC
1February 22at North Florida8-2Baseball Grounds of JacksonvillePigott (1-0)Pryor---11911-0
2February 23at North Florida9-17Harmon StadiumRaifordWesson (0-1)Stohr11211-1
3February 24at North Florida6-11Harmon StadiumPryorBowen (0-1)---10481-2
4February 26UAB9-2Dudy Noble FieldF. Moore (1-0)CrawfordWeatherford (1)58102-2
5March 1Air Force3-1Dudy Noble FieldPigott (2-0)TruesdaleWeatherford (2)68663-2
6March 1Air Force4-6Dudy Noble FieldPingelCrosswhite (0-1)Petro68663-3
7March 2Air Force16-8Dudy Noble FieldBowen (1-1)Petro---64384-3
8March 4Arkansas-Little Rock5-9Dudy Noble FieldKlumppF. Moore (1-1)---5657 4-4
9March 5Arkansas-Little Rock6-3Dudy Noble FieldCarver (1-0)RomingerLalor (1)58515-4
10March 9Baylor4-5Dudy Noble FieldVolzPigott (2-1)Fritsch60215-5
11March 9Baylor11-16Dudy Noble FieldTollesonCrosswhite (0-2)---60215-6
12March 10Baylor3-6Dudy Noble FieldKempfBowen (1-2)Cassavechia56225-7
13March 11Mississippi Valley State15-0Dudy Noble FieldSwindle (1-0)Reid---57256-7
14March 12Mississippi Valley State11-5Dudy Noble FieldWilson (1-0)Gafford---57257-7
15March 14Ole Miss6-15Dudy Noble FieldLynnF. Moore (1-2)Morgan65717-80-1
16March 15Ole Miss6-11Dudy Noble FieldBittleLalor (0-1)---74827-90-2
17March 16Ole Miss4-0Dudy Noble FieldBowen (2-2)Baker---30258-91-2
18March 18at UAB24-10Young Memorial FieldSwindle (2-0)Huddleston---5759-9
19March 21at South Carolina1-9Sarge Frye FieldCiscoCarver (1-1)---48109-101-3
20March 22at South Carolina1-4Sarge Frye FieldAtwoodSwindle (2-1)Todd50299-111-4
21March 23at South Carolina3-10Sarge Frye FieldCooperBowen (2-3)43139-121-5
22March 25South Alabama5-6Dudy Noble FieldLaGrowHouston (0-1)G.Johnson58669-13
23March 26South Alabama7-6(11)Dudy Noble FieldCrosswhite (1-2)Dunning603710-13
24March 28Georgia3-2(10)Dudy Noble FieldCrosswhite (2-2)Fields756411-132-5
25March 29Georgia1-5Dudy Noble FieldDodsonSwindle (2-2)942411-142-6
26March 30Georgia3-5(10)Dudy Noble FieldMcReeLalor (0-2)Fields642611-152-7
27April 1Austin Peay13-4Dudy Noble FieldWilson (2-0)Brisbin581712-15
28April 2Austin Peay10-2Dudy Noble FieldHolinghead (1-0)Kole586213-15
29April 4at Kentucky6-5Cliff Hagan StadiumLalor (1-2)BaberWeatherford (3)14-153-7
30April 5at Kentucky4-13Cliff Hagan StadiumGreenSwindle (2-3)277214-163-8
31April 6at Kentucky8-9Cliff Hagan StadiumPaxtonBusby (0-1)269614-173-9
32April 8at Memphis8-9(10)AutoZone ParkMartinBusby (0-2)72914-18
33April 11Vanderbilt8-15Dudy Noble FieldMinorBusby (0-3)633014-193-10
34April 12Vanderbilt0-16Dudy Noble FieldCothamBowen (2-4)616514-203-11
35April 13Vanderbilt3-4Dudy Noble FieldChristianiLalor (1-3)Brewer582714-213-12
36April 15vs. Ole Miss6-5Trustmark ParkWeatherford (1-0)Baker786215-21
37April 19at Alabama7-21Sewell-Thomas StadiumHyattCrosswhite (2-3)15-223-13
38April 19at Alabama6-4Sewell-Thomas StadiumLalor (2-3)QuigleyWeatherford (4)521516-224-13
39April 20at Alabama3-4Sewell-Thomas StadiumGrahamBusby (0-4)420116-234-14
40April 22at Southern Miss7-11Pete Taylor ParkJohnstonWhitney (0-1)Weathers452516-24
41April 23at Southern Miss7-12Pete Taylor ParkBallingerHollinghead (1-1)446416-25
42April 25Tennessee4-3(12)Dudy Noble FieldWeatherford (2-0)Rosas617017-255-14
43April 26Tennessee9-12Dudy Noble FieldMorgadoBowen (2-5)617417-265-15
44April 27Tennessee7-3(8)Dudy Noble FieldLalor(3-3)Harris602718-266-15
45May 2at Auburn4-11Samford StadiumDaytonCrosswhite (2-4)211518-276-16
46May 3at Auburn4-3Samford StadiumBowen (3-5)ThompsonWeatherford(5)252319-277-16
47May 4at Auburn2-12Samford StadiumGreinkePigott (2-2)Woodall230619-287-17
48May 6at MTSU5-20Reese Smith FieldAlvisWhitney (0-2)Hyde92119-29
49May 7at MTSU4-3Reese Smith FieldBusby(1-4)FrancesconWeatherford(6)71320-29
50May 9at LSU6-15Alex Box StadiumColemanCrosswhite(2-5)854820-307-18
51May 10at LSU4-16Alex Box StadiumB. MartinBowen(3-6)831220-317-19
52May 11at LSU6-9Alex Box StadiumBradfordPigott (2-3)Bradshaw870120-327-20
53May 13Memphis4-1Dudy Noble FieldCrosswhite (3-5)MartinWeatherford (7)573121-32
54May 15Arkansas6-5Dudy Noble FieldWeatherford(3-0)Wells586522-328-20
55May 16Arkansas6-5Dudy Noble FieldWilson (3-0)Bolsinger617723-329-20
56May 17Arkansas10-15Dudy Noble FieldMahlerWeatherford(3-1)673823-339-21

References

  1. "College Baseball Conference Standings – 2008". boydsworld.com. Retrieved November 30, 2012.
  2. "College Baseball Recruiting Results". Archived from the original on January 22, 2008. Retrieved February 28, 2008.
  3. Diamond Dogs 24th In Preseason NCBWA Poll - Mississippi State University Bulldogs Official Athletics Site - MStateAthletics.com
  4. Baseball Bulldogs 23rd In USA Today/ESPN Coaches Poll - Mississippi State University Bulldogs Official Athletics Site - MStateAthletics.com
  5. State Ranked 19th In Rivals.com Preseason Baseball Poll - Mississippi State University Bulldogs Official Athletics Site - MStateAthletics.com
  6. MSU's Turner Nabs Another All-America Honor; Diamond Dogs 27th In Collegiate Baseball Poll - Mississippi State University Bulldogs Official Athletics Site - MStateAthletics.com
  7. Brandon Turner Named To Golden Spikes Award Watch List - Mississippi State University Bulldogs Official Athletics Site - MStateAthletics.com
  8. MSU's Weatherford On Watch List For NCBWA Stopper Of The Year Award - Mississippi State University Bulldogs Official Athletics Site - MStateAthletics.com
  9. Turner, Weatherford Represent MSU On Wallace Award Watch List - Mississippi State University Bulldogs Official Athletics Site - MStateAthletics.com
  10. "Ron Polk Bio @ MStateAthletics.com". Archived from the original on September 20, 2011. Retrieved February 28, 2008.
  11. "Russ McNickle Bio @ MStateAthletics.com". Archived from the original on September 6, 2012. Retrieved February 28, 2008.
  12. "Tommy Raffo Bio @ MStateAthletics.com". Archived from the original on January 29, 2013. Retrieved February 28, 2008.
  13. Wade Hedges Bio @ MStateAthletics.com
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