Just a Bulldog Minute What is Key for Mississippi State Baseball to Win the Series this W (1:15)

The Mississippi State Bulldogs have won 13 of their last 15 games, including a series win over LSU. MSU will face a new test this weekend as they will hit the road for the first time this season.

Texas A&M sits at an 18-2 record, and this past weekend, Florida handed the Aggies their first two losses. They are a very offensive team with four hitters hitting over 330, but Mississippi native and Stanford transfer Braden Montgomery leads them.

Montgomery is batting .368 with nine home runs and 35 RBIs. He will be the key player to get out for the Bulldog pitching staff.

Last week, the bullpen carried the load for Mississippi State as they got a pair of dominant outings from Nolan Stevens and Karson Ligon. However, this week, it will be a lot tougher to battle from behind in a road environment, so MSU needs to get some good starts from their rotation.

It will also be interesting to see if the middle of the lineup for the Bulldogs can stay hot. Dakota Jordan and Hunter Hines will always produce, but what has propelled them the past couple of weeks is the production from Aaron Downs and Connor Hujsak.

This pair has been dangerous in the five and six-hole. Much has been made about this team's toughness after their performance last weekend against LSU, as it should have.

The Bulldogs will face their actual road test of the season, and they need to respond well. The series opener is tonight at 6:30 p.m. CT on ESPNU. 

More must-reads:

TODAY'S BEST
J.J. Watt addresses possibly ending retirement to play for Texans
Inter Miami's Lionel Messi could surpass two major MLS records
Reporter weighs in on potential Giants quarterback controversy
Cowboys to release veteran WR
Lakers want Anthony Davis' opinion in search for next head coach
Patriots exec explains why team drafted two QBs in 2024 NFL Draft
Borussia Dortmund legend 'considering' move to MLS
NHL announces Ted Lindsay Award finalists
Mavericks' Luka Doncic lists Thunder swingman among best perimeter defenders in NBA
Cowboys reportedly meeting with recently released veteran WR
Joe Burrow shares 'support' for Bengals who requested trades
Dodgers star latest victim of announcers jinx
Mike Conley discusses what makes Anthony Edwards so special
J.J. Watt and others destroy Austin Rivers over NBA/NFL take
Celtics dominate short-handed Cavaliers in blowout Game 1 win
Rangers special teams, goaltending help them take control against Hurricanes
Knicks share brutal injury news on Mitchell Robinson
Titans put Treylon Burks on notice with latest free-agent addition
Rudy Gobert's Defensive Player of the Year award redeems reputation of darkness retreats
LIV Golf scores major win ahead of PGA Championship

Want more Mississippi State news?

Join the hundreds of thousands of fans who start their day with Yardbarker's Morning Bark, the best newsletter in sports.