Mississippi State's Batting Leader Bats Ninth

Bryce Chance, the SEC's top hitter, has an unconventional spot in the Bulldogs' lineup

Mar. 28, 2026 at 8:20pm

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A fragmented, cubist-style painting depicting a college baseball game, with the players and field broken down into overlapping geometric shapes in the team colors of Mississippi State and Ole Miss.An unconventional batting order strategy gives Mississippi State an edge in their rivalry matchup against Ole Miss.Oxford Today

Mississippi State baseball has the SEC's leader in batting average, Bryce Chance, but he is batting in the No. 9 spot in the lineup, an unconventional move for the conference's top hitter. Chance is batting .455 this season, well ahead of the next best SEC batter.

Why it matters

Typically, a team's best hitter would bat near the top of the lineup to get the most at-bats. Mississippi State's decision to bat Chance ninth is an unusual strategy that has raised eyebrows, but the team believes it gives them an advantage.

The details

Bryce Chance, Mississippi State's leadoff hitter, is batting .455 this season, far ahead of the next best SEC batter. However, Chance is batting in the No. 9 spot in the Bulldogs' lineup, an unconventional move for the conference's top hitter.

  • Chance entered the March 28 game at No. 18 Ole Miss batting .455.

The players

Bryce Chance

Mississippi State's leadoff hitter and the SEC's leader in batting average this season.

Mississippi State baseball

The college baseball team that has the SEC's top hitter, Bryce Chance, batting in an unconventional spot in their lineup.

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The takeaway

Mississippi State's decision to bat their best hitter, Bryce Chance, in the No. 9 spot is an unconventional strategy that has raised eyebrows, but the team believes it gives them an advantage by setting up their lineup in a unique way.