Jackson Free Press

One of the best stories of 2013 had to be the Mississippi State University baseball team's magical run to Omaha to play in the College World Series. But the Bulldogs didn't just reach the College World Series; no, those Diamond Dogs went all the way to the championship series against the University of California Los Angeles.

The Bruins ended up sweeping the Bulldogs in two straight games to capture the title, leaving MSU in second place. Even with that loss, however, MSU proved that a team from Mississippi could compete for national championships at college athletics' highest level. The Bulldogs may have come up short in the end, but they enjoyed their best CWS showing since the team's third place finish in 1985.

Hopes will be high when the 2014 season starts this Friday, with a four-game home stand against Hofstra University that includes a doubleheader on Saturday. Mississippi State wants to show that last season wasn't just some lucky run, and that the Bulldogs are ready to become a mainstay on the national scene.

Mississippi State will have to replace the offensive firepower of Adam Frazier and Hunter Renfroe. The Pittsburgh Pirates drafted Frazier in the sixth round of the 2013 MLB Draft and the San Diego Padres took Renfroe as the 13th player overall.

The Bulldogs hope that returning junior Wes Rea picks up some of the offensive load. Last season, Rea batted .291 with 40 RBI and seven home runs.

MSU will also look to returning starters Alex Detz, Brett Pirtle, C.T. Bradford and Demarcus Henderson to pick up the offensive slack. While no player may be able to replace either Frazier or Renfroe, the Bulldogs still has a roster with multiple players who can contribute.

Pitching was one of the strengths of last year's team. Mississippi State didn't rely on one ace on the staff, but rather a rotation that featured solid starters and great middle relievers and closers.

The Bulldogs' starting pitchers weren't required to go deep in a game or to win each game; they kept the game close and allowed the core of the pitching staff to do their job. Mississippi State Head Coach John Cohen knew that if the game was close, his relievers and closers could get the job done, and he could get big hits out of Frazier and Renfroe.

Mississippi State could help repeat last season's success with getting more from the starting pitchers and by taking some of the load off the bullpen. The Bulldogs are loaded with pitchers, and Coach Cohen can work with his pitching staff early in the season to see what works best.

MSU's run to the CWS might best be remembered for the "Bench Mobb," a group of players who kept the team in good spirits with their dugout antics as well as on-the-field play. That type of chemistry can't be forced, but if the Bulldogs can recreate something like it with this team, they will stay on the field as they did last season.

Mississippi State won't be sneaking up on anyone this season. All eyes will be on the Bulldogs, and every opponent will test themselves against MSU. Still, nothing says Mississippi State can't return to Omaha and finish the job they started last season.