Mississippi State Baseball Opens 2026 Season Against Hofstra
Mississippi State baseball kicks off the 2026 season this weekend, welcoming Hofstra for the first meeting between the two programs. The series begins Friday at 4 p.m. in Starkville, with games scheduled for 1 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. All three games will be streamed on SEC Network+.
Brian O’Connor, in his first season as the Bulldogs’ head coach, was hired June 1, 2025. He previously led Virginia for 22 seasons, earning 18 NCAA Tournament appearances, seven College World Series trips, and a 2015 national championship. O’Connor was inducted into the American Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2024 and is a three-time National Coach of the Year.
O’Connor has revamped the roster, adding 26 newcomers for 2026, including 18 transfers, which ranks as the No. 2 recruiting class nationally. The team also features eight freshmen. Despite the influx of new players, Mississippi State returns its top five hitters from last season, when the team set a school record with 103 home runs. The Bulldogs hit .304 as a team in 2025, with all five returning offensive players batting .317 or better.
First-team All-American Ace Reese and Noah Sullivan anchor the offense. Reese, the 2025 SEC Newcomer of the Year, batted .352 with 80 hits, 18 doubles, 21 home runs, and 66 RBIs last season. Sullivan started all 59 games, posting a .345 batting average and a .475 on-base percentage, with 70 hits and 15 home runs.
Retaining pitching coach Justin Parker was a key offseason win for O’Connor. Parker’s staff has struck out over 480 batters in each of the past two seasons, ranking among the top in school history. During the series against Hofstra, the Bulldogs will start three sophomores: Ryan McPherson, Charlie Foster, and Tomas Valincius.
Hofstra will counter with senior right-hander Carlos Martinez on Friday. The Pride finished 18-36 last season. The series marks the first-ever meeting between Mississippi State and Hofstra on the baseball diamond.
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