Mississippi State pitcher Pico Kohn makes a pitch against Alabama at Sewell-Thomas Stadium in Tuscaloosa Friday, April 11, 2025. Gary Cosby Jr.-Tuscaloosa News / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Pitching Breakdown: Mississippi State, Auburn Announce Starting Pitchers

Originally posted on Mississippi State Bulldogs on SI
By Taylor Hodges | Last updated Apr 25, 2025 9:04 AM ET

Mississippi State has held a multi-run in each of its last three losses (two to Florida and one to Ole Miss) and if the Bulldogs hope to keep playing in late May, that trend can’t continue.

The Bulldogs’ starting pitchers have put their teams in position to win, but whether the bullpen falters or the other team’s bats get hot, the Bulldogs are losing these games.

This weekend’s SEC series against No. 11 Auburn (28-13, 9-9 SEC) represents Mississippi State’s toughest challenge (excluding rivalry aspects that make Ole Miss tough no matter what). A win or two this weekend will go a long way to earning a spot in the NCAA Baseball Tournament next month.

We do know who will be starting each for Mississippi State (24-17, 6-12 SEC). However, Auburn has not announced a starter for Sunday’s series finale. Sometimes this is a bit of gamesmanship, other times a coach might use his Sunday starter in a relief situation or have some other kind of plan.

Pitching on the Plains#HailState pic.twitter.com/sN5KE3Q7oz
— Mississippi State Baseball (@HailStateBB) April 24, 2025

Here are the announced starting pitchers, plus potential starters for Auburn on Sunday and some key arms in the bullpen for each team:

Game One

LHP Pico Kohn (4-1, 3.29 ERA, 54.2 IP, 81 SO, 14 BB, 20 ER, .204 b/avg.) vs. RHP Samuel Dutton (5-2, 2.43 ERA, 55.2 IP, 64 SO, 12 BB, 15 ER, .249 b/avg.)

A look at 11 K's from LHP Pico Kohn (@HailStateBB)... @PG_Draft https://t.co/oht5WVOi1O pic.twitter.com/OyQfBeByTl
— PG College Baseball (@PGCollegeBall) April 22, 2025

Game Two

RHP Evan Siary (0-1, 4.00 ERA, 27 IP, 33 SO, 10 BB, 12 ER, .231 b/avg.) vs. LHP Cade Fisher (1-1, 4.71 ERA, 28.2 IP, 37 SO, 19 BB, 15 ER, .225 b/avg.)

RHP Evan Siary (@HailStateBB) K'd 6 over 4 IP & sat low-90s. Mid-70s CB (clip) got a bunch of S/M, changes speeds & executes well.

Jr./'25 elig. pic.twitter.com/YOfekDBfMH
— PG College Baseball (@PGCollegeBall) April 20, 2025

Game Three

RHP Karson Ligon (4-4, 5.63 ERA, 38.1 IP, 47 SO, 14 BB, 24 ER, .252 b/avg.) vs. TBA

Potential Auburn Starters

RHP Andreas Alvarez (1-1, 7.45 ERA, 29 IP, 23 SO, 13 BB, 24 ER, .299 b/avg.)
LHP Carson Myers (0-2, 3.26 ERA, 3 SV, 30.1 IP, 39 SO, 5 BB, 11 ER, .230 b/avg.)
RHP Cam Tilly (2-1, 4.26 ERA, 25.1 IP, 36 SO, 13 BB, 12 ER, .151 b/avg.)
RHP Parker Carlson (3-1, 3.38 ERA, 1 SV, 18.2 IP, 20 SO, 3 BB, 7 ER, .197 b/avg.)
LHP Giffin Graves (3-1, 3.68 ERA, 14.2 IP, 14 SO, 9 BB, 6 ER, .170 b/avg.)

Notable Relief Pitchers

Mississippi State

RHP Ryan McPherson (4-0, 2.96 ERA, 1 SV, 27.1 IP, 44 SO, 8 BB, 9 ER, .184 b/avg.)
RHP Stone Simmons (3-2, 3.65 ERA, 2 SV, 24.2 IP, 33 SO, 10 BB, 10 ER, .258 b/avg.)
RHP Ben Davis (1-2, 4.38 ERA, 18.2 IP, 42 SO, 5 BB, 11 ER, .159 b/avg.)

Auburn

RHP Ryan Hetzler (0-0, 5.12 ERA, 4 SV, 19.1 IP, 17 SO, 3 BB, 11 ER, .219 b/avg.)
RHP Jett Johnson (4-0, 4.76 ERA, 1 SV, 11.1 IP, 11 SO, 8 BB, 6 ER, .171 b/avg.)
RHP Dylan Watts (2-0, 6.45 ERA, 1 SV, 22.1 IP, 24 SO, 10 BB, 6 ER, .264 b/avg.)