HOOVER, Ala. — Mississippi State, ranked No. 16 nationally, begins its SEC Tournament run Wednesday at 9:30 a.m. against Missouri at Hoover Metropolitan Stadium. The game will be televised on SEC Network.
The Bulldogs, the No. 8 seed, advanced by defeating Ole Miss 10-8 on Tuesday. Missouri, the ninth seed, eliminated Ole Miss’s rival in the opening round, securing a 10-8 victory.
Mississippi State holds a 16-7 all-time series lead over Missouri and swept the Tigers to close last season. In that series, the Bulldogs scored 25, 13, and 12 runs in three games, with the latter two ending after seven innings.
This year’s matchup features a different Bulldogs team, led by a powerful lineup and a strikeout-heavy pitching staff. Sophomore left-hander Tomas Valincius will start for Mississippi State. He boasts a 9-2 record with a 3.04 ERA, 112 strikeouts, and 17 walks in 80 innings. Valincius has been a key piece in the rotation since transferring from Virginia.
Valincius’s recent highlights include seven shutout innings at Arkansas, a 14-strikeout performance against Vanderbilt, and 13 strikeouts without walks in a win over Auburn. His contributions have helped Mississippi State remain competitive and secure a postseason spot.
The Bulldogs’ offense ranks among the best nationally, posting a .314 team batting average, a .545 slugging percentage, and a .411 on-base percentage. They have hit 120 doubles and 102 home runs, just one shy of last year’s school record.
Missouri, with a 24-40 record, struggles on the mound with a 5.75 team ERA. In contrast, Mississippi State owns a 4.34 ERA and has struck out 610 batters in 473 innings. The Bulldogs’ lineup features key contributors such as Bryce Reese, Noah Sullivan, and Jacob Parker, all of whom have provided offensive firepower.
Reese, with a .332 batting average, leads the team with 20 home runs, 67 RBIs, and 21 doubles. Sullivan is batting .347 with 11 homers and 43 RBIs. Freshman Jacob Parker has added 13 home runs and 50 RBIs, earning All-SEC honors.
This will be only the second SEC Tournament meeting between the two teams. Mississippi State won the previous encounter 2-1 in 17 innings in 2013. Fans can follow the game and stay updated through official team channels and social media.
