Less than 24 hours before the SEC Tournament begins, postseason honors are rolling in from the league.
Mississippi State’s return back to postseason has been a welcomed sign for coach Chris Lemonis and a trio of players that helped make it happen were recognized for their production.
The SEC coaches named RHP Khal Stephen and SS David Mershon as first-team All-SEC members. OF Dakota Jordan earned a spot on the second team.
Stephen was a transfer portal find by Lemonis and pitching coach Justin Parker that has proven to be massive for State’s return. The Purdue transfer was third-team All-Big Ten last season but has given State a chance almost every week this season.
Taking over as the Friday night starter for the Bulldogs when SEC play began, Stephen finished the regular season 8-3 in 14 starts with a 3.25 ERA. He has thrown 83.0 innings, given up 66 hits, 30 earned runs, 19 walks and struck out 93 batters on the season.
In 11 of his starts this year, Stephen has thrown at least 6.0 innings. He’s surrendered two runs or fewer in eight of those appearances.
For Mershon, his spark on the team has been immeasurable in the last two seasons. After batting .280 in 25 starts last season, the South Carolina native is batting .326 as a sophomore with 63 hits in 50 games. Mershon has 11 doubles, four home runs, two triples and 36 RBI while slugging .466 with an OBP of .430 and stealing 23 bases on the year.
Mershon has also been an excellent defender as he’s recorded just two errors playing both second base and short stop. He has a .988 fielding percentage on the season.
Fresh off of winning the CSpire Ferriss Trophy for the state’s best baseball player, Jordan was also named second-team on the same day. Jordan has watched as his numbers have improved from a strong freshman year to this season.
The Canton native leads the team with a .363 average, 74 hits, 17 home runs, 14 doubles and 61 RBI. He is slugging .691, as an OBP of .478 and hasn’t had an error this season.
State will be back in action on Tuesday night as the Bulldogs head to Hoover, Ala., to start the Tournament against rival Ole Miss at 8:30 p.m.
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