It was a banner day for Mississippi State baseball, as the Diamond Dawgs brought home the Ferris Trophy and a plethora of honors from the SEC. It started with Jake Mangum, who became the first two time winner of the state’s most prestigious honor for a baseball player.
TWICE AS NICE 🏆
Jake Mangum becomes the first two-time winner of the C Spire Ferriss Trophy.#HailState🐶 | @jakemangum15 pic.twitter.com/nAiAp1DUAS
— Mississippi State Baseball ⚾️ (@HailStateBB) May 20, 2019
Mangum’s year was highlighted by him becoming the all time leading hitter in SEC history, currently sitting at 370 hits entering his final postseason. He led MSU with a .375 average, sparking a Bulldog offense that rang up a 45-11 record and led the conference in batting average. Mangum beat out his teammate Ethan Small, Ole Miss shortstop Grae Kessinger, and Southern Mississippi’s Matt Wallner to claim his second trophy, the first coming after his freshman season.
The Bulldogs would add more hardware later in the afternoon, as the conference office announced its yearly award winners. Small, the Bulldog’s ace, was named SEC Pitcher of the Year, finishing the regular season with an 8-1 record, 1.84 ERA, and a league leading 139 strikeouts in 83 innings pitched. His teammate and fellow weekend starter JT Ginn was also honored as the SEC Freshman of the Year. Ginn came to Starkville with a lot of expectations after turning down a first round contract from the Los Angeles Dodgers, but he delivered an 8-3 record, 3.12 ERA, and 95 strikeouts in 75 innings pitched.
8-1 with a 1.84 ERA in 83.0 innings pitched this season; struck out 139, which is No. 5 on @HailStateBB single-season strikeouts list.@E7hanS is the #SECBSB Pitcher of the Year. pic.twitter.com/axTgcRPZ80
— Southeastern Conference (@SEC) May 20, 2019
8-3 with a 3.12 ERA for @HailStateBB.
He ranks in the top-10 in the SEC in wins, strikeouts (95) and games started (14). @JT_Ginn3 is the #SECBSB Freshman of the Year. pic.twitter.com/aRdGWYmDLo
— Southeastern Conference (@SEC) May 20, 2019
Two other Bulldogs would get recognition on Monday, as first baseman Tanner Allen and second baseman Justin Foscue were named first team All-SEC alongside Mangum and Small. Allen has been the Bulldogs’ hottest hitter as of late, with his average now at .348 to go with 6 home runs and a team leading 59 RBI. Foscue has been the biggest power threat for the Bulldogs all season, hitting .348 with 14 home runs and 56 RBI. Ginn was named to the All-Freshman team, while Mangum was also named to the All-Defensive team.
4️⃣ of the 12 First-Team All-SEC honorees are Diamond Dawgs!
🏆 Tanner Allen
🏆 Justin Foscue
🏆 Ethan Small
🏆 Jake Mangum#HailState🐶 pic.twitter.com/gUy1njz93j— Mississippi State Baseball ⚾️ (@HailStateBB) May 20, 2019
Photo courtesy of Mississippi State athletics
