1981 Mississippi State Bulldogs baseball team

1981 Mississippi State Bulldogs baseball
1981 Mississippi State Bulldogs baseball
SEC West champions; NCAA Atlantic Regional champions
College World Series, 1–2
Conference	Southeastern Conference
CB	No. 6
Record	46–17 (17–6 SEC)
Head coach	Ron Polk (6th season);
Home stadium	Dudy Noble Field

1981 Southeastern Conference baseball standings
	Conf.				Overall
Team	W		L	PCT	W		L	PCT
Eastern Division
No. 15 Florida ^x‍‍‡‍^y	16	–	7	.696	42	–	17	.712
Kentucky ‍‍‍	13	–	9	.591	39	–	16	.709
Tennessee ‍‍‍	10	–	13	.435	22	–	27	.449
Vanderbilt ‍‍‍	9	–	12	.429	26	–	25	.510
Georgia ‍‍‍	8	–	15	.348	23	–	23	.500
Western Division
No. 6 Mississippi State ^x‍‍‍^y	17	–	6	.739	46	–	17	.730
Alabama ^x‍‍‍	17	–	6	.739	41	–	15	.732
Ole Miss ‍‍‍	8	–	14	.364	24	–	24	.500
LSU ‍‍‍	7	–	14	.333	23	–	30	.434
Auburn ‍‍‍	7	–	16	.304	27	–	27	.500

x – Division champion ‡ – Tournament champion y – Invited to the NCAA tournament As of June 30, 1981^[1] Rankings from Collegiate Baseball

The 1981 Mississippi State Bulldogs baseball team represented Mississippi State University in the 1981 NCAA Division I baseball season. They were led by head coach Ron Polk in his sixth season and played their home games at Dudy Noble Field. The Bulldogs were members of the Southeastern Conference, and finished with a record of 46–17, co-champions of the SEC West with a record of 17–6.

Mississippi State was invited to the NCAA Tournament, where they won the Atlantic Regional to advance to their third College World Series. The Bulldogs tied for fifth, recording an opening round win against Michigan and losses to eventual champion Arizona State and semifinalist South Carolina.

Personnel

Roster

1981 Mississippi State Bulldogs roster^[2]

Pitchers

12 - Harold Myles - Sophomore
13 - Don Mundie - Senior
17 - John Shrewsberry - Senior
18 - Allen Morlock - Junior
20 - Phil Weathersby - Junior
22 - Steve Susce - Junior
23 - Mark Taylor - Junior
37 - Dan Hogan - Freshman

Catchers

10 - John Shannon - Freshman
19 - Jay Porter - Sophomore
26 - Dave Bullard - Freshman

Outfielders

8 - Mark Gillaspie - Senior
9 - Tony Gage - Junior
25 - Brad Winkler - Junior
34 - Scott Darlington - Senior
39 - Glenn Young - Sophomore

Utility

6 - Steve D'Ercole - Senior
11 - Rick Bairley - Junior
28 - Terry Loe - Graduate
33 - Bill Bond - Junior

Infielders

2 - Billy Martz - Senior
3 - Dan Zelmer - Sophomore
4 - Dan Van Cleve - Freshman
5 - Chris Maloney - Sophomore
14 - Dwayne Brown - Senior
15 - Dave Klipstein - Junior
21 - Lou Sotille - Senior
29 - Pete White - Junior
35 - Bruce Castoria - Junior
38 - Tim Parenton - Freshman

Coaching staff

1981 Mississippi State Bulldogs coaching staff^[2]
- Ron Polk - Head coach – 6th season - Mark Johnson - 6th season

Schedule

1981 Mississippi State Bulldogs baseball game log^[3]

Regular season

February
Date	Opponent	Site/stadium	Score	Overall record	SEC record
Feb 25	Livingston*	Dudy Noble Field • Starkville, MS	W 15–1	1–0
Feb 28	LSU	Dudy Noble Field • Starkville, MS	W 15–1 ⁽⁷⁾	2–0	1–0
Feb 28	LSU	Dudy Noble Field • Starkville, MS	W 5–2 ⁽⁷⁾	3–0	2–0

March
Date	Opponent	Site/stadium	Score	Overall record	SEC record
Mar 3	Louisiana Tech*	Dudy Noble Field • Starkville, MS	W 10–2	4–0
Mar 5	Louisiana Tech*	Dudy Noble Field • Starkville, MS	W 8–7	5–0
Mar 6	Auburn	Dudy Noble Field • Starkville, MS	L 7–8 ⁽⁷⁾	5–1	2–1
Mar 6	Auburn	Dudy Noble Field • Starkville, MS	L 3–4 ⁽⁷⁾	5–2	2–2
Mar 7	Auburn	Dudy Noble Field • Starkville, MS	W 8–3	6–2	3–2
Mar 10	at Arizona*	Wildcat Field • Tucson, AZ	W 11–9	7–2
Mar 11	at Arizona*	Wildcat Field • Tucson, AZ	W 16–12	8–2
Mar 12	at Grand Canyon*	Brazell Field • Phoenix, AZ	W 9–1	9–2
Mar 13	at Grand Canyon*	Brazell Field • Phoenix, AZ	W 10–7	10–2
Mar 14	vs Oklahoma State*	Roger Barnson Field • Paradise, NV	L 9–20	10–3
Mar 15	at UNLV*	Roger Barnson Field • Paradise, NV	W 23–17 ⁽⁷⁾	11–3
Mar 15	at UNLV*	Roger Barnson Field • Paradise, NV	W 4–3 ⁽⁷⁾	12–3
Mar 19	at Livingston*	Livingston, AL	W 21–20	13–3
Mar 21	Alabama	Dudy Noble Field • Starkville, MS	W 5–3 ⁽⁷⁾	14–3	4–2
Mar 21	Alabama	Dudy Noble Field • Starkville, MS	L 1–2 ⁽⁵⁾	14–4	4–3
Mar 22	Alabama	Dudy Noble Field • Starkville, MS	L 4–8	14–5	4–4
Mar 24	vs Ole Miss	Smith–Wills Stadium • Jackson, MS	W 4–3	15–5
Mar 27	at Southern Miss*	Kamper Park • Hattiesburg, MS	W 5–4	16–5
Mar 28	at Southern Miss*	Kamper Park • Hattiesburg, MS	W 6–2	17–5
Mar 30	at South Alabama*	Eddie Stanky Field • Mobile, AL	L 3–5	17–6
Mar 31	at South Alabama*	Eddie Stanky Field • Mobile, AL	L 4–7	17–7

April
Date	Opponent	Site/stadium	Score	Overall record	SEC record
Apr 3	Mississippi College*	Dudy Noble Field • Starkville, MS	W 14–1	18–7
Apr 4	Ole Miss	Dudy Noble Field • Starkville, MS	W 12–4	19–7	5–4
Apr 5	Ole Miss	Dudy Noble Field • Starkville, MS	W 7–1 ⁽⁷⁾	20–7	6–4
Apr 5	Ole Miss	Dudy Noble Field • Starkville, MS	W 8–3 ⁽⁷⁾	21–7	7–4
Apr 7	Tulane*	Dudy Noble Field • Starkville, MS	W 12–5	22–7
Apr 7	Tulane*	Dudy Noble Field • Starkville, MS	W 12–4	23–7
Apr 9	at Mississippi College*	Frierson Field • Clinton, MS	L 2–5	23–8
Apr 11	at Auburn	Plainsman Park • Auburn, AL	L 4–6 ⁽⁷⁾	23–9	7–5
Apr 11	at Auburn	Plainsman Park • Auburn, AL	W 3–2 ⁽⁷⁾	24–9	8–5
Apr 12	at Auburn	Plainsman Park • Auburn, AL	W 12–6	25–9	9–5
Apr 14	Delta State*	Dudy Noble Field • Starkville, MS	L 1–4	25–10
Apr 15	Delta State	Dudy Noble Field • Starkville, MS	W 8–3	26–10
Apr 18	at LSU	Alex Box Stadium • Baton Rouge, LA	W 11–1 ⁽⁷⁾	27–10	10–5
Apr 18	at LSU	Alex Box Stadium • Baton Rouge, LA	W 7–2 ⁽⁷⁾	28–10	11–5
Apr 19	at LSU	Alex Box Stadium • Baton Rouge, LA	W 12–4	29–10	12–5
Apr 21	William Carey*	Dudy Noble Field • Starkville, MS	W 11–3	30–10
Apr 22	William Carey*	Dudy Noble Field • Starkville, MS	W 17–5	31–10
Apr 25	Alabama	Dudy Noble Field • Starkville, MS	W 8–4 ⁽⁷⁾	32–10	13–5
Apr 25	Alabama	Dudy Noble Field • Starkville, MS	W 5–3 ⁽⁷⁾	33–10	14–5
Apr 26	Alabama	Dudy Noble Field • Starkville, MS	W 13–5	34–10	15–5
Apr 27	Arkansas State*	Dudy Noble Field • Starkville, MS	W 3–0	35–10
Apr 28	Arkansas State*	Dudy Noble Field • Starkville, MS	W 24–3 ⁽⁷⁾	36–10
Apr 29	vs Arkansas*	Legion Field • Greenville, MS	W 11–4	37–10
Apr 30	at Jackson State*	Smith–Wills Stadium • Jackson, MS	W 6–4	38–10

May
Date	Opponent	Site/stadium	Score	Overall record	SEC record
May 1	at Jackson State*	Smith–Wills Stadium • Jackson, MS	L 10–11	38–11
May 2	at Birmingham–Southern*	Stripling Field • Birmingham, AL	L 4–5	38–12
May 3	at Birmingham–Southern*	Stripling Field • Birmingham, AL	W 11–7	39–12
May 10	at Ole Miss	Swayze Field • Oxford, MS	W 12–6 ⁽⁷⁾	40–12	16–5
May 10	at Ole Miss	Swayze Field • Oxford, MS	W 7–4 ⁽⁷⁾	41–12	17–5
May 11	at Ole Miss	Swayze Field • Oxford, MS	L 4–7	41–13	17–6

Postseason

SEC Tournament
Date	Opponent	Site/stadium	Score	Overall record	SECT record
May 15	Kentucky	Dudy Noble Field • Starkville, MS	W 3–2	42–13	1–0
May 16	Florida	Dudy Noble Field • Starkville, MS	L 3–8	42–14	1–1
May 17	Kentucky	Dudy Noble Field • Starkville, MS	L 2–3	42–15	1–2

NCAA Atlantic Regional
Date	Opponent	Site/stadium	Score	Overall record	Regional record
May 22	East Tennessee State	Beautiful Tiger Field • Clemson, SC	W 7–6	43–15	1–0
May 23	Wichita State	Beautiful Tiger Field • Clemson, SC	W 5–1	44–15	2–0
May 24	East Tennessee State	Beautiful Tiger Field • Clemson, SC	W 6–5	45–15	3–0

College World Series
Date	Opponent	Site/stadium	Score	Overall record	CWS record
May 30	Michigan	Johnny Rosenblatt Stadium • Omaha, NE	W 4–1	46–15	1–0
June 2	Arizona State	Johnny Rosenblatt Stadium • Omaha, NE	L 3–4	46–16	1–1
June 4	South Carolina	Johnny Rosenblatt Stadium • Omaha, NE	L 5–6	46–17	1–2

References

↑ "College Baseball Conference Standings – 1981". Boydsworld.com. Retrieved October 6, 2014.
1 2 "1981 Baseball Roster". Mississippi State Bulldogs. Retrieved August 16, 2026.
↑ "1981 Baseball Schedule". Mississippi State Bulldogs. Retrieved August 16, 2026.

[1] "College Baseball Conference Standings – 1981". Boydsworld.com. Retrieved October 6, 2014.

[roster-2] 1 2 "1981 Baseball Roster". Mississippi State Bulldogs. Retrieved August 16, 2026.

[3] "1981 Baseball Schedule". Mississippi State Bulldogs. Retrieved August 16, 2026.

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[2]

[3]

Mississippi State Bulldogs baseball
Venues	Dudy Noble Field, Polk–DeMent Stadium (1967–present)
Rivalries	Ole Miss
Culture & lore	Left Field Lounge
People	Head coaches Statistical leaders
Seasons	1885 1886 1887 1888 1889 1890 1891 1892 1893 1894 1895 1896 1897 1898 1899 1900 1901 1902 1903 1904 1905 1906 1907 1908 1909 1910 1911 1912 1913 1914 1915 1916 1917 1918 1919 1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026
National championships in bold; College World Series appearances in italics