1985 Mississippi State Bulldogs baseball team

American college baseball season September 2026 September 2026 baseball 1985 Mississippi State Bulldogs Mississippi State Bulldogs baseball logo.svg 150 Southeastern Conference SEC 4 50–15 16–8 Ron Polk 10th Dudy Noble Field SEC Tournament championsNCAA South I Regional champions College World Series 2–2 The 1985 Mississippi State Bulldogs baseball team represented Mississippi State University in the 1985 NCAA Division I baseball season. They were led by head coach Ron Polk in his tenth season and played their home games at Dudy Noble Field. The Bulldogs were members of the Southeastern Conference, and finished with a record of 50–15, second place in the SEC West with a record of 16–8. Mississippi State was invited to the NCAA Tournament, where they won the South I Regional to advance to their third College World Series. The Bulldogs tied for third, recording wins against Oklahoma State and eventual semifinalist 1985 Arkansas Razorbacks Arkansas and losses to eventual champion Miami (FL) and runner-up Texas. The team featured four future Major League players, with Will Clark and Rafael Palmeiro forming a tandem nicknamed "Thunder and Lightning" while Jeff Brantley and Bobby Thigpen would go on to become notable relief pitchers. All four would become All-Stars.https://www.secsports.com/news/2020/07/sec-storied-thunder-and-lightning SEC Storied:Thunder and Lightning Southeastern Conference July 13, 2020 October 3, 2026https://www.clarionledger.com/story/mississippistatesports/2015/05/04/sec-thunder-lightning-looks-at-msu-1985-baseball/26872947/ Clarion Ledger Jackson, Mississippi 'Thunder and Lightning' looks at MSU's 1985 baseball team Michael Bonner May 4, 2015 October 3, 2026https://www.columbiadailyherald.com/story/sports/college/2013/06/22/85-club-still-casts/25656163007/ The Daily Herald Columbia, Tennessee '85 club still casts long shadow June 22, 2013 October 3, 2026 Personnel Roster 1985 Mississippi State Bulldogs rosterhttps://static.hailstate.com/custompages/pdf/bb/2026/bb_26mg.pdf Mississippi State Bulldogs 2026 Baseball Media Guide October 3, 2026https://ncaa.soutronglobal.net/Public/Default/en-US/RecordView/Index/43507 NCAA 1985 DI Baseball College World Series, Program, Box Scores October 3, 2026 Pitchers 8 - Jeff Brantley - Senior 18 - Trent Intorcia - Junior 20 - Ray Mullino - Junior 31 - Steve King - Junior 36 - Will McRaney - Junior 40 - Gene Morgan - Senior 42 - Dave Wilder - Senior Catchers 11 - Randy Abrams - Sophomore 14 - Roark McDonald - Junior 34 - Tri Weaver - Junior Outfielders 4 - Dan Van Cleve - Senior 6 - Rafael Palmeiro - Junior 13 - Bobby Thigpen - Senior 15 - John Mitchell - Sophomore 29 - Sammy Duda - Senior 33 - Mike McCraney - Sophomore Infielders 5 - Gator Thiesen - Senior 7 - John Scott - Junior 10 - Frank Davis - Senior 12 - Joel Johnson - Junior 23 - Will Clark - Junior 27 - Tommy Butt - Junior Coaching staff 1985 Mississippi State Bulldogs coaching staff1 - Ron Polk - Head coach – 10th season 2 - Tim Sumner - Assistant coach - 4th season 9 - Pat McMahon - Associate head coach - 8th season Schedule Legend Mississippi State win Mississippi State loss * Non-Conference game 1985 Mississippi State Bulldogs baseball game loghttps://hailstate.com/sports/baseball/schedule/1985 Mississippi State Bulldogs 1985 Baseball Schedule October 3, 2026 Regular season February Date Opponent Site/stadium Score Overall record SEC record Feb 23 1985 Mississippi College Choctaws Mississippi College* Dudy Noble Field • Starkville, MS W 9–1 1–0 Feb 24 1985 William Carey Crusaders William Carey* Dudy Noble Field • Starkville, MS W 10–0 2–0 Feb 26 1985 Livingston Tigers Livingston* Dudy Noble Field • Starkville, MS W 26–4 3–0 Feb 27 at 1985 South Alabama Jaguars South Alabama* Eddie Stanky Field • Mobile, AL W 4–1 4–0 Feb 28 at South Alabama* Eddie Stanky Field • Mobile, AL W 2–1 5–0 March Date Opponent Site/stadium Score Overall record SEC record Mar 2 1985 Southeastern Louisiana Lions Southeastern Louisiana* Dudy Noble Field • Starkville, MS W 3–2 (10) 6–0 Mar 3 Southeastern Louisiana* Dudy Noble Field • Starkville, MS W 4–2 7–0 Mar 6 1985 Union (Tennessee) Bulldogs Union (TN)* Dudy Noble Field • Starkville, MS W 19–2 8–0 Mar 9 1985 Auburn Tigers Auburn Dudy Noble Field • Starkville, MS W 4–1 (7) 9–0 1–0 Mar 9 Auburn Dudy Noble Field • Starkville, MS W 3–2 (7) 10–0 2–0 Mar 10 Auburn Dudy Noble Field • Starkville, MS W 14–0 11–0 3–0 Mar 13 at 1985 Birmingham–Southern Panthers Birmingham–Southern* Stripling Field • Birmingham, AL W 10–2 12–0 Mar 14 at Birmingham–Southern* Stripling Field • Birmingham, AL W 18–9 13–0 Mar 16 at 1985 LSU Tigers LSU Alex Box Stadium • Baton Rouge, LA W 7–0 (7) 14–0 4–0 Mar 16 at LSU Alex Box Stadium • Baton Rouge, LA L 6–9 (7) 14–1 4–1 Mar 17 at LSU Alex Box Stadium • Baton Rouge, LA L 4–7 14–2 4–2 Mar 19 1985 New Orleans Privateers New Orleans* Dudy Noble Field • Starkville, MS L 4–10 14–3 Mar 20 New Orleans* Dudy Noble Field • Starkville, MS W 7–6 15–3 Mar 22 at Livingston* Livingston, AL W 5–0 16–3 Mar 23 1985 Alabama Crimson Tide Alabama Dudy Noble Field • Starkville, MS L 4–7 (7) 16–4 4–3 Mar 24 Alabama Dudy Noble Field • Starkville, MS W 17–10 (7) 17–4 5–3 Mar 24 Alabama Dudy Noble Field • Starkville, MS W 11–5 (7) 18–4 6–3 Mar 26 at 1985 Delta State Statesmen Delta State* Ferriss Field • Cleveland, MS W 6–4 19–4 Mar 28 at Delta State* Ferriss Field • Cleveland, MS W 14–8 (7) 20–4 Mar 30 at 1985 Ole Miss Rebels Ole Miss Swayze Field • Oxford, MS W 4–0 21–4 7–3 Mar 30 at Ole Miss Swayze Field • Oxford, MS W 10–2 22–4 8–3 Mar 31 at Ole Miss Swayze Field • Oxford, MS L 7–12 22–5 8–4 April Date Opponent Site/stadium Score Overall record SEC record Apr 2 1985 Arkansas State Indians Arkansas State* Dudy Noble Field • Starkville, MS W 13–4 23–5 Apr 2 Arkansas State* Dudy Noble Field • Starkville, MS W 12–5 24–5 Apr 5 at 1985 Hawaii–Hilo Vulcans Hawaii–Hilo* Francis Wong Stadium • Hilo, HI W 7–2 25–5 Apr 6 at Hawaii–Hilo* Francis Wong Stadium • Hilo, HI W 2–0 26–5 Apr 6 at Hawaii–Hilo* Francis Wong Stadium • Hilo, HI W 7–1 (7) 27–5 Apr 9 at 1985 Hawaii Rainbow Warriors Hawaii* Les Murakami Stadium • Honolulu, HI W 8–1 28–5 Apr 10 at Hawaii* Les Murakami Stadium • Honolulu, HI L 3–4 28–6 Apr 13 at Auburn Plainsman Park • Auburn, AL L 2–3 (7) 28–7 8–5 Apr 13 at Auburn Plainsman Park • Auburn, AL L 1–3 (8) 28–8 8–6 Apr 14 at Auburn Plainsman Park • Auburn, AL L 1–8 28–9 8–7 Apr 16 vs Mississippi College* Smith–Wills Stadium • Jackson, MS L 5–7 28–10 Apr 17 1985 Jackson State Tigers Jackson State* Dudy Noble Field • Starkville, MS W 9–3 29–10 Apr 18 Jackson State* Dudy Noble Field • Starkville, MS W 18–7 30–10 Apr 20 LSU Dudy Noble Field • Starkville, MS W 6–1 (7) 31–10 9–7 Apr 20 LSU Dudy Noble Field • Starkville, MS W 6–5 (7) 32–10 10–7 Apr 21 LSU Dudy Noble Field • Starkville, MS W 7–4 33–10 11–7 Apr 23 vs Ole Miss* Smith–Wills Stadium • Jackson, MS(Mayor's Trophy) W 5–2 34–10 Apr 25 at 1985 Southern Miss Golden Eagles Southern Miss* Pete Taylor Park • Hattiesburg, MS W 11–4 (7) 35–10 Apr 25 at Southern Miss* Pete Taylor Park • Hattiesburg, MS W 3–0 (7) 36–10 Apr 27 at Alabama Sewell–Thomas Stadium • Tuscaloosa, AL L 5–6 (10) 36–11 11–8 Apr 27 at Alabama Sewell–Thomas Stadium • Tuscaloosa, AL W 14–4 (7) 37–11 12–8 Apr 28 at Alabama Sewell–Thomas Stadium • Tuscaloosa, AL W 6–4 38–11 13–8 Apr 30 vs 1985 Arkansas Razorbacks Arkansas* Legion Field • Greenville, MS W 16–2 (5) 39–11 May Date Opponent Site/stadium Score Overall record SEC record May 1 vs Arkansas* Ray Winder Field • Little Rock, AR L 1–13 39–12 May 4 Ole Miss Dudy Noble Field • Starkville, MS W 6–5 (7) 40–12 14–8 May 4 Ole Miss Dudy Noble Field • Starkville, MS W 4–1 (7) 41–12 15–8 May 5 Ole Miss Dudy Noble Field • Starkville, MS W 4–3 42–12 16–8 Postseason Mississippi State Bulldogs 1985 Southeastern Conference baseball tournament SEC Tournament Date Opponent Site/stadium Score Overall record SECT record May 10 1985 Florida Gators Florida Alex Box Stadium • Baton Rouge, LA W 8–3 43–12 1–0 May 11 1985 Georgia Bulldogs Georgia Alex Box Stadium • Baton Rouge, LA W 2–0 44–12 2–0 May 12 Georgia Alex Box Stadium • Baton Rouge, LA W 8–3 45–12 3–0 Mississippi State Bulldogs 1985 NCAA Division I baseball tournament#South I Regional at Starkville, MS NCAA South I Regional Date Opponent Site/stadium Score Overall record Regional record May 24 1985 West Virginia Mountaineers West Virginia Dudy Noble Field • Starkville, MS W 10–1 46–12 1–0 May 25 New Orleans Dudy Noble Field • Starkville, MS W 8–4 47–12 2–0 May 26 1985 Michigan Wolverines Michigan Dudy Noble Field • Starkville, MS L 6–14 47–13 2–1 May 27 Michigan Dudy Noble Field • Starkville, MS W 19–8 48–13 3–1 Mississippi State Bulldogs 1985 NCAA Division I baseball tournament#College World Series College World Series Date Opponent Site/stadium Score Overall record CWS record May 31 Oklahoma State Johnny Rosenblatt Stadium • Omaha, NE W 12–3 49–13 1–0 June 3 Arkansas Johnny Rosenblatt Stadium • Omaha, NE W 5–4 50–13 2–0 June 7 Texas Johnny Rosenblatt Stadium • Omaha, NE L 7–12 50–14 2–1 June 8 Miami (FL) Johnny Rosenblatt Stadium • Omaha, NE L 5–6 50–15 2–2 References Mississippi State Category:Mississippi State Bulldogs baseball seasons Mississippi State Baseball Category:Southeastern Conference baseball champion seasons Category:College World Series seasons