MSU, Ole Miss Prepare for SEC Tournament

Mississippi State earned the No. 5 seed in the conference tournament after winning it all a year ago. The Bulldogs will start Trevor Fitts, for his second career start, Tuesday against No. 12 seed Missouri. Fitts gave up 1 earned run over 3 innings in his start last Tuesday against Oral Roberts.

The Tigers will bring Rob Zastryzny, who started the Big 12 title game last year, to the hill for the single-elimination game. The winner faces South Carolina Wednesday.

MSU senior infielder Sam Frost went to Hoover High School and grew up around the city’s love for baseball.

“Whenever people talk about Hoover, that’s what they talk about. The SEC Tournament is there. We bring a bunch of people every year. Everybody enjoys coming out there to watch. It’s baseball all day,” Frost said.

He believes State can benefit from last year’s championship.

“Everything was just clicking for us. I think it really kind of helped us, playing every day. We’re going to have a bunch of games to play this time if we’re to go all the way. Being there before we kind of know what’s expected and what’s needed to win and I think it’ll help us,” Frost said.

Ole Miss is the No. 6 seed and will play No. 11 seed Kentucky in the first round. The Rebels haven’t announced a starter while the Wildcats have Jerad Grundy slotted on the mound.

The Bulldogs are ranked 13th in the final USA Today poll of the season. Mississippi is ranked the lowest in the Baseball America top 25 where they’re 16th. The Rebels are ranked 21st in the USA Today poll and have fallen out of the Baseball America rankings.