MSU’s Mangum Named SEC Player of the Week

STARKVILLE, Miss. (MSU Athletics) – Senior Jake Mangum earned Southeastern Conference Player of the Week on Monday (April 29) after helping No. 6 Mississippi State to a perfect 4-0 week against ranked opponents and becoming the SEC’s career hits leader during a series sweep over then-No. 3 Georgia this past weekend at Dudy Noble Field.

It is the first SEC Player of the Week honor in Mangum’s career and his second weekly award from the conference. The Pearl, Mississippi native earned SEC Freshman of the Week on April 11, 2016.

Mangum broke an SEC record that stood for nearly 21 years on Saturday versus Georgia with his 353rd career hit. That hit broke the conference’s career hits record, which was previously held by LSU’s Eddie Furniss (352; 1995-98). Most impressive, Mangum accomplished his 353rd hit in his 239th game, while Furniss did so in 265 games.

The senior outfielder ended the weekend with 355 career hits, moving him into the NCAA record books at a tie for No. 12 all-time in Division I history. He is currently tied with tie Sonny Meade (The Citadel; 2006-09) and Chris Campbell (College of Charleston; 2004-07).

Mangum became the SEC’s career hits leader with his second of three hits in the middle game of the series with Georgia. The senior reached base three times in each game versus the Bulldogs, while finding himself on base twice in his fourth-straight Governor’s Cup victory on Tuesday. Mangum also scored a run in each game of the week.

After reaching twice in the midweek tilt with Ole Miss, Mangum found himself on base in his first eight plate appearances on the weekend (five singles, two walks and one fielder’s choice), scoring four times. He tied his career high with two walks in both the series opener and series finale.

In the middle game of the series, Mangum’s second-inning single gave him 353 hits for his career, which pushed him past Furniss on the SEC’s career hits list. He added two walks and a base hit in the series finale, scoring twice. He also stole his 20th base of the year, moving into a tie for 12th on the MSU single season charts.

The conference player of the week honor is the third for a Diamond Dawg this season, as senior Elijah MacNamee (March 18) and sophomore Jordan Westburg (March 25) grabbed the award in back-to-back weeks. Freshman JT Ginn has earned the SEC’s Co-Freshman of the Week twice, on Feb. 25 and March 4.

The five SEC weekly honors are tied for the second most in program history with the 2012 squad, while the 2016 team brought home a school-record six weekly accolades during its run to an NCAA Super Regional.

This week includes only a weekend series, as the Diamond Dawgs will travel to College Station, Texas to face off with No. 15 Texas A&M in a series that features two nationally televised games. The series opener on Thursday, May 2 will start at 6 p.m. and air on the SEC Network, before Friday’s 6:35 first pitch continues the stay in the Lone Star State. Saturday’s series finale will also air on the SEC Network at 2 p.m.