STARKVILLE — Mississippi State baseball has stumbled to start the SEC schedule and has work to do if it wants to make the NCAA tournament.
The Bulldogs (17-12, 1-8 SEC) have been swept in two of three SEC series. Their only conference win was at Oklahoma on March 21.
MSU hosts South Carolina (18-12, 1-8) for a three-game series at Dudy Noble Field beginning on Friday (6 p.m., SEC Network+). The Gamecocks are the first unranked conference opponent MSU has faced this season.
Here's a look at Mississippi State's latest NCAA tournament projections entering the series.
Mississippi State baseball NCAA tournament projections
D1Baseball does not include Mississippi State in its field of 64.
Baseball America also does not have Mississippi State projected to make the NCAA tournament. However, it lists MSU as one of the first four teams out.
Mississippi State baseball NCAA tournament resume
Mississippi State entered the season as a ranked team but has hit a rut in the last month. It's 4-8 since the start of SEC play. The 1-8 conference record is tied for worst start in coach Chris Lemonis' seven seasons.
MSU's RPI is 59th entering Friday's game.
MSU has particularly struggled against its best opponents. It is 1-11 in Quad 1 games.
Mississippi State baseball NCAA tournament history under Chris Lemonis
Mississippi State has had mixed NCAA tournament results under Lemonis.
It has peaked twice with two College World Series appearances in 2019 and 2021. The Bulldogs won the national championship in 2021. There was no NCAA tournament in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Bulldogs have only made the postseason one other time in Lemonis' tenure. It was last season when they lost to Virginia in the Charlottesville Regional.
Sam Sklar is the Mississippi State beat reporter for the Clarion Ledger. Email him at ssklar@gannett.com and follow him on X @sklarsam_.
This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Mississippi State baseball: NCAA tournament projections for Chris ...
