STARKVILLE, Miss. - Mississippi State put the finishing touches on its 2008-09 fall baseball recruiting campaign Tuesday with the announced signing of a pair of standouts from the junior college ranks in Texas and Kansas.

Signing national letters of intent with the Diamond Dogs are outfielder Runey Davis from Georgetown, Texas, a freshman at Howard (Texas) College, and Tim Statz from St. Louis, Mo., a sophomore left-handed pitcher at Hutchinson (Kans.) Community College.

The addition of the duo brings to 14 the number of Mississippi State baseball signees during the week-long early signing period, which ends November 19.

"We had two immediate needs with this recruiting class --- on the mound and behind the plate," said first-year MSU baseball coach John Cohen. "We’ve addressed both of those needs, and we’re especially pleased to get the quality left-handed pitchers that we signed. This recruiting class is a nice mix of speed and power and a good blend of talented high school players and experienced players from the junior college level."

"It was also important for us to maintain the caliber of students we’ve had in the program at Mississippi State," he continued.

"In addition to being outstanding athletes, this recruiting class also includes a great collection of students."

Mississippi State signed eight high school athletes and six baseball players that will compete on the junior college level in 2009.

RUNEY DAVIS, OF, 5-11, 180, R-R, Georgetown, Texas (Georgetown High School/University of Texas/Howard College)

JUNIOR COLLEGE: Transferred to Howard College in Big Spring, Texas, following a rookie season at the University of Texas in 2008 ... Saw limited playing time in seven games with one at-bat and four runs scored as a Longhorn ... Projected starter in the outfield as a freshman playing for Coach Britt Smith’s Howard College Hawks in 2009.

HIGH SCHOOL: Four-year letter-winner as an outfielder at Georgetown (Texas) High School ... Coached by Danny Wallace ... Served as team captain and piled up 52 hits, drove in 31 runs and pilfered 25 bases in helping lead the Georgetown Eagles to the 2007 Class 5A Region II finals ... Earned third-team all-state, first-team all-district and all-county honors as a senior in 2007 ... Also a first-team all-district selection as a junior on GHS’ 2006 bi-district championship team ... An 11th-round draft pick of the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 2007 MLB First-Year Player Draft ... Played summer league baseball for the SLAM club baseball team in Austin ... Coached by Tommy Boggs ... Accorded Premier All-Star and Team Texas honors while playing for Austin SLAM ... Three-year letter-winner and two-time all-district selection in football as a running back in high school ... Also a member of GHS’s 2006 regional qualifying 400-meter and 800-meter relay teams in track ... Participated in Georgetown High School’s PALS program.

PERSONAL: Born Burundi Runey Davis on January 1, 1989 in Austin, Texas ... Son of Mona Shields of Temple, Texas.

COHEN: "Runey was an impressive multi-sport athlete in an outstanding high school program in Texas. He possesses the speed and the quickness to cover a lot of ground in the outfield and can put pressure on opposing defenses."

TIM STATZ, LHP/OF, 6-0, 160, L-L, St. Louis, Mo. (Marquette High School/Hutchinson Community College)

JUNIOR COLLEGE: Starting left-handed pitcher as a freshman at Hutchinson (Kans.) Community College in 2008 ... Coached by Kyle Crookes ... Compiled a 5-3 record with a 3.54 earned run average pitching for the HCC Blue Dragons ... Drew 11 starts in 12 appearances with three complete games and 65 strikeouts in 56 innings pitched.

HIGH SCHOOL: Starred on the mound and in the outfield at Marquette HS in Chesterfield, Mo. ... Coached by John Meyer ... Compiled an 8-2 record with a 2.05 earned run average as a senior in helping lead the Mustangs to the district and sectional championships and a season-ending No. 10 state ranking ... Named to the 2007 Missouri High School Baseball Coaches All-State second team in the 4A classification after garnering honorable mention all-state honors in 2006... Also a second-team All-Metro St. Louis selection ... Registered 60 strikeouts in 54-2/3 inning while holding opposing hits to a .188 batting average ... Compiled 13 wins, a 1.74 ERA and 129 strikeouts over his two varsity seasons with the MHS Mustangs ... Earned first-team honors as a pitcher and second-team honors as an outfielder on the Suburban West All-Conference teams in both 2006 and 2007.

PERSONAL: Born May 4, 1989 in Lancaster, Calif. ... Son of Jackie and Peter Statz of St. Louis, Mo.

COHEN ON STATZ: "Tim is a fearless competitor. He can pitch to both sides of the plate with his fastball and has tremendous confidence in all of his pitches. He’s an immediate impact player who also brings great leadership qualities to Mississippi State."