STARKVILLE, Miss. — The Mississippi State Bulldogs will travel to College Station this weekend with the most momentum this program has felt since winning it all in 2021. There have been other winning streaks over the past two years, and even a season ago, the Bulldogs took two out of three at Baton Rouge.
However, this momentum differs as MSU has won 12 of its last 14 games. In 2022, the Bulldogs started the season with a series loss to Long Beach State and lost a game to a putrid Northern Kentucky team just a week later. This year has produced some ugly losses as well, including falling to South Alabama, Air Force, and a pair to Austin Peay.
They too were inexcusable, but Mississippi State bounced back from them unlike in 2022, when it never did. The situation subsequently spiraled out of control as the Bulldogs traveled to Tulane and lost the series and two of their top arms, Stone Simmons and Landon Sims.
They also started SEC play with some ugly losses in Athens against Georgia. The 2023 season was much of the same as Mississippi State blew a lead opening weekend to VMI, a midweek loss to Louisiana Monroe, and a pair of ugly losses in the Frisco College Baseball Classic.
After a 0-9 start to league play, that team could never build any momentum due to losing and a lack of toughness. Consequently, a common theme for Mississippi State over the previous two seasons was the inability to handle adversity.
However, this team endured hardships and still came out of the other side. At least so far.
Specifically, this team started 3-4 and looked dead and buried, but the Bulldogs quietly won nine straight against inferior competition. Granted, this team just needed wins, and it's safe to say that Mississippi State head coach Chris Lemonis nailed the pitching coach hire with Justin Parker.
He's already turned the staff around, and they led the team en route to their nine-game winning streak, but once again, MSU faltered and lost a 5-4 decision to South Alabama in Biloxi. However, the beauty of baseball is you get to get back on the diamond the next day, and the Bulldogs capitalized by winning an ugly 2-1 game over New Orleans.
MSU was going into a weekend where they would face the No. 2 LSU Tigers without Friday night ace Nate Dohm. However, once again, the Bulldogs overcame the setback and won 10-4 on Friday night and 15-5 on Sunday.
But they can't pat themselves on the back just yet. The series win sets up the Bulldogs' most significant series since 2021 as they travel to face Texas A&M. The Aggies are coming off a series loss to Florida and will be eager to at least even things out in the win column.
Not only do the Bulldogs have a chance to show everyone that they are back to form and are one of the top teams in the country, but do something they last couple of teams could not, accumulate momentum.
It will also be their first road series of the year, and Blue Bell Park is one of the most challenging venues to play in throughout the SEC. This team's toughness sets it apart from previous seasons; LSU is notorious for its antics and methods of intimidation.
The Bulldogs were not having it as they responded to the Tigers leading to a chippy environment all weekend on the diamond. That fire and toughness will be needed moving forward. If the Bulldogs can win the series suddenly, they are firmly back into hosting discussions. If not, it'll be two steps forward, and one step back,
Jacob Bain covers Mississippi State sports for Cowbell Corner. Come back Wednesday to learn about which player embodies the team's new-found attitude. MSU is back in action Tuesday night at 6 p.m. CT, hosting Memphis (SEC Network+).
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