Sims Tabbed for SEC, Golden Spikes Weekly Award

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Sims opens 2021 with a 10-strikeout relief performance against No. 12 Texas at the State Farm College Baseball Showdown

STARKVILLE – Twelve batters came to the plate against Mississippi State baseball’s second-year freshman Landon Sims and all 12 of them retreated to the dugout without reaching base in State’s season-opening win over No. 12 Texas at the State Farm College Baseball Showdown. For his efforts, Sims was tabbed as the SEC Co-Pitcher of the Week as announced by the conference office on Tuesday (Feb. 23).

The Cummings, Georgia, native was also selected as the Golden Spikes Award D1Baseball Performance of the Week as announced by USA Baseball.

Sims entered the season opener with the bases loaded and no outs in the bottom of the fifth inning to face the top three hitters in the Longhorns’ lineup. The right-hander threw 16 pitches to strike out the side and hold MSU’s lead at 5-1 at the time.

He went on to retire all 12 batters he faced, 10 heading back to the dugout via strikeout. The other two outs were a sixth-inning groundout and an eighth-inning flyball. His 10 strikeouts are a career-best, as were his four innings pitched. He didn’t walk a batter and tossed a career-high 58 pitches to earn his second career victory on the mound.

Sims is the 25th Diamond Dawg pitcher to earn the SEC’s weekly pitching award, which began in 1987, for a total of 36 weekly awards.  Jeff Brantley was also named the SEC Player of the Week twice in 1985, the first year of that award.

Mississippi State will open its home schedule at 4 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 24 against Jackson State at Dudy Noble Field. The game will air live on the ESPN App and ESPN.com/watch, along with being carried on the MSU Baseball Radio Network.