STARKVILLE — Two years ago, an already decorated Dudy Noble Field outfield wall got an addition. Mississippi State baseball unveiled its 2021 national champions decal before opening the 2022 season, forever commemorating a season unlike any other in the program’s history.

That sign remains as MSU prepares to open the 2024 season on Feb. 16 against Air Force, but the level of success it represents feels like a distant memory. And it's a testament to the pressure on coach Chris Lemonis to steer the program back to its successful period.

Mississippi State hasn’t made it to the SEC tournament, let alone the NCAA Tournament, since lifting the sport’s most prestigious trophy. It’s apparently on the players' minds as well.

“We talk about going to Omaha every night,” sophomore outfielder Dakota Jordan said Friday. “We envision it. I envision it every day.”

Though leaders such as Jordan and first baseman Hunter Hines shoulder much of the responsibility of getting MSU back to the College World Series, Mississippi State’s success may not rely too much on their bats.

The key is MSU first-year pitching coach Justin Parker, who came to Starkville from South Carolina in the offseason. Mississippi State has had a worthwhile offense amid the struggles. It has been pitching that has been the root of the struggles.

“(Parker) has built a great relationship with those guys, so I think there’s a lot of trust going on right now,” Lemonis said. “Even going from fall to now, it’s still been a lot of growth.”

With time, Lemonis believes his pitchers have seen their confidence grow. Getting to this point, though, wasn't easy.

Right-handed pitcher Nate Dohm, who had a 4.07 ERA across 17 appearances last season after transferring in from Ball State, admits he had to battle to get certain mechanical changes ingrained.

“Unconsciously, my body was fighting what (Parker) was teaching,” Dohm said.

But Parker was persistent, ensuring Dohm continued to implement changes during drills so that when in-game scenarios came up, he felt comfortable.

“I’ve never felt this good on the mound,” Dohm said. “It’s so smooth, just the ability to move smooth down the mound.”

MSU FOOTBALL: Where MSU has improved — and has work to do — in transfer portal

Dohm is one arm on a staff that needed to be revamped after owning the SEC’s worst ERA last season. But if Parker was able to implement change and improvement in Dohm, it could be a sign that he will succeed with the others.

Opening day is fast-approaching, though Mississippi State still seems far from establishing a starting rotation and identifying bullpen roles. Those opening weekend assignments could change plenty by the time SEC play arrives, but one thing is certain.

Lemonis’ team will go only as far as Parker’s staff takes it.

“Facing pitchers this fall, it seemed a lot tougher than the past two years,” outfielder Bryce Chance said. “Just the way that they’re going about their work is different.”

Stefan Krajisnik is the Mississippi State beat writer for the Clarion Ledger. Contact him at skrajisnik@gannett.com or follow him on the X platform, formerly known as Twitter, @skrajisnik3.

This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Why pitching will make or break Mississippi State baseball in 2024