Update: The game will begin at 10 a.m. after last night’s rain delay.
Let’s try this again…. #OMADAWGS GAMEDAY!!
?: North Carolina
?: TD Ameritrade Park
⏰: 10 a.m. CT
?: ESPN2
?/?: https://t.co/kzC5Uw4C8o
?: https://t.co/jR4DbMD9QH
?: https://t.co/PxQUfp2c2P
?: https://t.co/ND6MWM5grA#HailState? pic.twitter.com/d3PgtCH062— #OmaDawgs ⚾ (@HailStateBB) June 19, 2018
Update: After the initial rain delay, the matchup between Mississippi State and North Carolina has been postponed. First pitch is set for 10 a.m.
The rain didn’t go away fast enough so we’ll play another day.. and that day is tomorrow
First pitch against the Tar Heels is set for Tuesday at 10 a.m. CT#OmaDawgs | #HailState? https://t.co/uv3awwfbMN
— #OmaDawgs ⚾ (@HailStateBB) June 19, 2018
Update: A rain delay in the Washington/Oregon State matchup will likely push the start time of MSU/UNC back.
Fresh off of another walk-off win on Saturday night against Washington, Mississippi State is set for their matchup with North Carolina in Omaha.
Mississippi State has now won with walk-offs in the Regional, Super Regional, and the College World Series, but against UNC, they may have to do their damage before the 9th inning rolls around. The Tar Heels scored 8 runs in their victory over Oregon State on Saturday, and their offense is on a tear as of late. In their last 11 games, the Tar Heels are 10-1 and have outscored its opponents 95-38. They are also 37-0 when scoring 6+ runs this season.
For Mississippi State, they are in the winner’s bracket for the first time in this postseason, so they’ll be tasked with bringing the same energy that they’ve had when their backs have been against the wall. State’s remarkable run has been supplemented by timely hitting throughout their lineup in the later stages of the season. That continued on Saturday, and the Bulldogs got multi-hit games from Hunter Stovall, Jake Mangum, Elijah MacNamee and Luke Alexander, who delivered the walk-off.
If MSU wants to win this one, they’ll need a solid performance from LHP Konnor Pilkington. The lefty has struggled at times year, and he has a 5-7 record with a 4.56 ERA. Ethan Small shut down the Huskies for 7.0 innings on Saturday, and he has set a high standard for this Bulldog pitching staff.
On the mound for UNC will be Austin Bergner. The RHP has a 7-2 record with a 4.28 ERA this season, and batters are hitting .248 against him.
The winner of Monday’s matchup will face the winner of Wednesday’s elimination game on Friday at 2 p.m.
