2013 CWS TEAM CAPSULE

Capsule Previews for: Oregon State & UCLA (others being added)

Mississippi State Bulldogs
(advanced through Starkville Regional and Charlottesville Super Regional) 

Record: 48–18 (16-14)
Conference: Southeastern (16-14/3rd Western Division; advanced to SEC Tournament semifinals)

Head Coach: John Cohen (22 seasons, 5th at Mississippi State) 

First Game in Omaha: Sat. June 15th vs. #3 National Seed Oregon State (2 CT, ESPN2)

Series vs. Oregon State: First Meeting

NCAA Tournament History: 33rd appearance (9th CWS, first since 2007)

Team National Statistical Ranks (offensive):
• 38th in batting avg. (.297)
• 42nd in hit-by-pitch (76)
• 56th in bases on balls (280)
• 60th in scoring (6.0 runs per game)
• 76th in slugging pct. (.392)
• 78th in home runs (29)
• 152nd in stolen bases (56)

Team National Statistical Ranks (pitching & defense):
• 4th in double plays turned (76)
• 13th in staff ERA (2.77)
• 10th in strikeouts per 9 innings (8.3)
• 11th in fewest hits allowed per 9 inn. (7.34)
• 15th in low WHIP (1.19 walks+hits per 9 IP)
• 31st in staff K-to-walk ratio (2.46)
• 33rd in low opponent on-base pct. (.387)
• 66th in fielding pct. (.972)
• 111th in fewest walks allowed per 9 inn. (3.35)

Top-50 Players Among NCAA Stat Leaders
position players
• Adam Frazier 4th in hits (102), 6th in triples (7), 29th in  runs (29) & 50th in doubles (19)
• Hunter Renfroe 13th in total abses (152), 14th in home runs (14), 21st in slugging (.644) & 27th in RBI (61)
• Alex Detz 11th in walks (52)
• Brett Pirtle 28th in hit-by-pitch (19)

pitchers
• Kendall Graveman tied for 1st in starters (17)
• Jonathan Holder 5th in saves (18)
• Ross Mitchell 6th in wins (12-0; all in relief), 8th in ERA (1.35) & 42nd in fewest hits allowed per 9 innings (6.54)

2013 MLB Draft Picks  (7)
OF Hunter Renfroe – 1st round (Padres)
SS Adam Frazier – 6th round (Pirates)
RHP Kendall Graveman – 8th round (Blue Jays)
LHP Chad Girodo – 9th round (Blue Jays)
RHP Evan Mitchell – 13th round (Reds)
IF/RHP Daryl Norris – 22nd round (Tigers)
LHP/OF Luis Pollorena  – 23rd round (Rangers)

ROAD TO OMAHA – The Bulldogs started the 2013 season 17-0, rising as high as #3 in the national  rankings. They proceeded to drop 2-of-3 heading into SEC play. Poor play continued through the first three SEC series as the ‘Dogs managed to win only one game versus LSU, Kentucky and Arkansas.  The ship seemed to be righted in April before closing out the month by being swept by 2nd-ranked Vanderbilt. Despite a 16-14 conference mark, Mississippi State advanced to the semifinals of the SEC Tournament before dropping a 16-8 game to the Commodores. In the NCAA Starksville Regional, the host team was pushed to the brink of elimination after dropping a game to Central Arkansas, which earlier had won 2-of-3 at Mississippi State during the 2013 regular season. The Bulldogs ultimately rolled to a 6-1 victory in the decisive game vs. UCA to advance to the Super Regionals at Virginia. Two wins later, suring Mississippi State secured its first trip to Omaha since 2007.

NOT HOW YOU START, IT’S HOW YOU FINISH – Unlike several of the other 2013 CWS teams, Mississippi State has no problem handing over games to its bullpen (often for extended stints).  A pair of lefthanders – sophomore Ross Mitchell (12-0) and senior Chad Girordo (8-1) – have combined for a 20-1 record in 2013, despite all 65 of their combined appearances in relief roles. Mitchell is averaging nearly 3.0 innings per appearances while Girordo averages 1.3 innings per outing.

All-America sophomore closer Jonathan Holder, all 6-foot-2, 230 pounds of him, is one of four finalists for national Stopper of the Year, and for good reason. The big righthander has 18 saves with a 1.31 ERA and 1.7 strikeouts per inning (83 Ks in 48 IP). Like Mitchell, Holder often can be called on for more than one inning (average outing in 2013 is 1.2 innings). 

DYNAMIC DUO – The Mississippi State offense is spearheaded by a pair of all-star players at two key positions in the lineup: junior shortstop Adam Frazier (leadoff) and his classmate Hunter Renfroe, the team’s 3-hole batter and starting rightfielder. Frazier’s omission from the All-SEC teams caused quite a stir among the Bulldog faithful, but Frazier (who was named to the SEC All-Defensive Team) has proven to be an elite two-way player during the 2013 postseason: earning a spot on the SEC All-Tournament team and then sparking the Super Regional surge by batting 6-for-6 in gm-1 at Virginia. Frazier’s 26 extra-base hits this season include seven triples. The Pittsburgh Pirates clearly see Frazier’s value and upside, selecting him in the sixth round of the recent MLB Draft.

Renfroe’s talented multi-tool offensive skills include a .360 batting avg. to go along with 15 home runs and nearly as many walks (34) as strikeouts (40). The All-American and first-round 2013 draft pick (Padres) smacked made news during Thursday’s batting practice at TD Ameritrade Park by launching a home run to left field at the pitcher-friendly stadium.  

NORTHERNMOST GAME – The last time Mississippi State played this far north was during its previous trip to the CWS in 2007.  And if not for new conference member Texas A&M, this week’s trke to Omaha would be the Bulldog’s longest roadtrip all season.

DOUBLE TROUBLE – The Bulldogs rank fourth in the NCAA in double plays turned with 76 and have turned 13 DPs in their past nine games.

• Roster Breakdown: 7 Seniors, 12 Juniors, 9 Sophomores, 9 Freshmen

• Home States: 12 from Mississippi, 8 from Alabama, 5 from Tennessee, 3 from Georgia, 2 each from Texas and Canada, one each from Louisiana, Florida, California, New Jersey and Kansas

PROBABLE LINEUP (* indicates team leader in category)

(1) SS Adam Frazier – bats: L, 5-11/174, Jr., Bishop, GA
SEC All-Tournament Team, SEC All-Defensive Team
.359, 60 runs, 38 RBI, 0 HR, 7 Triples, 19* Doubles, .475 SLG%, 22 BB, 2 HBP, 25 K, 7-11 SB
– 6th Round 2013 Draft-Pick of the Pittsburgh Pirates

(2) 3B Alex Detz – bats: L, 5-10/177 , Jr. San Luis Obispo, CA
MVP of Starkville Regional
 .323, 31 RBI, 40 runs, 1 HR, 1 Triples, 13 Doubles, .405 SLG%, 52* BB, 6 HBP, 41 K, 1-5 SB

(3) RF Hunter Renfroe – bats: R, 6-1/216 , Jr., Crystal Springs, MS
First Team All-American
.360*, 61* RBI, 54 runs, 15* HR, 3 Triples, 16 Doubles, .644* SLG%, 34 BB, 7 HBP, 40 K, 9-12 SB
– 1st-Round 2013 Draft-Pick of the San Diego Padres

(4) 2B Brett Pirtle – bats: switch, 5-9/176, Jr., Tyler, TX
Second Team All-SEC
.306, 33 RBI, 36 runs, 2 HR, 2 Triples, 9 Doubles, .397 SLG%, 20 BB, 19* HBP, 26 K, 9-9* SB

(5) 1B Wes Rea – bats: R, 6-5/172, So., Gulfport, MS
.288, 37 RBI, 28 runs, 7 HR, 0 Triples, 9 Doubles, .458 SLG%, 24 BB, 7 HBP, 46 K, 0-0 SB

(6) CF C.T. Bradford – bats: L, 5-9/170,  Jr., Pace, FL
… .287, 25 RBI, 43 runs, 1 HR, 0 Triples, 4 Doubles, .316 SLG%, 21 BB, 8 HBP, 36 K, 8-8 SB (nine relief pitching appearances)

(7) LF Demarcus Henderson – bats: R, 5-10/170 , Jr. , Waynesboro, MS
.277, 21 RBI, 22 runs, 0 HR, 0 Triples, 3 Doubles, .296 SLG%, 21 BB, 3 HBP, 33 K, 3-7 SB

(8) C Nick Ammirati – bats: switch, 5-9/189, Sr., Sparta, NJ (transfer from Seton Hall)
… .257, 23 RBI, 23 runs, 1 HR, 0 Triples, 3 Doubles, .296 SLG%, 14 BB, 4 HBP, 24 K, 2-3 SB

(9) DH Derrick Armstrong – bats: R, 5-8/190 , Jr., Columbia, TN
.279, 8 RBI, 14 runs, 0 HR, 0 Triples, 1 Doubles, .295 SLG%, 8 BB, 1 HBP, 19 K, 4-5 SB

STARTING PITCHING (3)   (* – team-leading total)

• RHP Trevor Fitts – 6-2/212, So., Helena, AL
0-0, 2.42 ERA, 26.0 IP, 19 K, 8 BB, .224 opp. batting avg. (22 H)

• LHP Luis Pollorena – 5-9/162, Sr., Laredo, TX
6-3, 4.32 ERA, 77.0 IP, 59 K, 35 BB, .258 opp. batting avg. (75 H)
– Drafted in the 23rd Round by the Texas Rangers (2013)

• RHP Kendall Graverman – 6-1/197, Sr., Alexander City, AL
7-5, 3.14 ERA, 103.1 IP, 65 K, 27 BB, .268 Opp. BA (105 H)
– Drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 8th Round (2013)

BULLPEN 

• RH closer Jonathan Holder – 6-2/229, So., Gulfport, MS
All-American, Finalist for Stopper of the Year
18 saves, 2-0, 1.31 ERA, 48.0 IP, 83 K, 15 BB, .153 opp. batting avg. (25 H)

• LHP Ross Mitchell – 6-1/171, So., Smyrna, TN
2 saves, 12-0 (31 GP, all in relief), 1.35 ERA, 86.2 IP, 43 K, 26 BB, .205 opp. batting avg. (63 H)

• LHP Chad Girordo – 6-1, 195, Sr., Hartsville, AL
8-1 (34 GP, all in relief), 1.38 ERA, 45.2 IP, 63 K, 16 BB, .218 opp. batting avg. (37 H)
– Drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 9th Round (2013)