Mississippi State: CWS Notebook

OMAHA, NEB. — The move to flip-flop starting pitchers for the first two games of the College World Series was done to help out both pitchers and his team, Mississippi State coach Ron Polk said.

Polk thinks Justin Pigott, a left-hander who thrives on location and movement, will be more successful tonight against a North Carolina team that will bat four or five left-handers.

He also thinks Chad Crosswhite, a hard-throwing right-hander, will benefit the team against Rice or Louisville, which MSU will play Sunday.

Pigott thinks the key for him will be getting ahead in counts against the Tar Heels.

"Get offspeed early in the counts, they swing early," he said.

CWS Notebook