Mississippi State, Ole Miss Clash in Governor’s Cup at Trustmark Park

PEARL, Miss. — No. 10 Mississippi State will host 17th-ranked Ole Miss on Tuesday at 6 p.m. at Trustmark Park for the annual Governor’s Cup, a non-conference baseball rivalry game, streamed on SEC Network+.

The Bulldogs enter the game with an 8-game winning streak and a 34-10 record after sweeping LSU last weekend. They also hold a five-game winning streak over Ole Miss, having swept the Rebels in Oxford earlier this season.

Mississippi State leads the all-time series 271-213-5 and has a commanding 11-6 record in the Governor’s Cup since 2007. The Bulldogs are scheduled to start senior right-hander Brendan Sweeney, who has a 6.46 ERA over 15 1/3 innings this season.

Ole Miss comes into the game with a 31-14 record, after losing two of three to Georgia over the weekend. The Rebels are hitting .265 with 78 home runs and 297 RBIs. Junior right-hander Owen Kelly is expected to start for Ole Miss, carrying a 3.04 ERA and 24 strikeouts in 23 2/3 innings this season.

Mississippi State’s offense ranks among the best in the SEC, batting .313 with a .415 on-base percentage and a .539 slugging percentage. Third baseman Ace Reese leads the team with 15 home runs and 53 RBIs. The Bulldogs’ pitching staff has a 3.63 team ERA and has struck out 502 batters in 382 innings.

The game is an opportunity for Mississippi State to boost its RPI and build momentum ahead of a weekend series against No. 4 Texas. The Governor’s Cup does not affect SEC standings, but the rivalry remains highly significant for both programs, which have a long history of competitive matchups.

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