Mississippi State baseball will host Nicholls State on Tuesday at Dudy Noble Field in Starkville. The game is scheduled to start at 6 p.m. and will be streamed on SEC Network+.
The Bulldogs enter the matchup with a 36-12 record overall and a 14-10 mark in the Southeastern Conference, following a series loss to No. 4 Texas. MSU won Saturday’s game 7-4 but lost the Thursday and Sunday contests, 3-1 and 11-6, respectively. Despite the setbacks, the team remains among the top-ranked programs nationally, according to major polls.
Tuesday’s game offers an opportunity for Mississippi State to reset ahead of a crucial SEC series against No. 6 Auburn, beginning Thursday. Head coach Brian O’Connor’s team aims to sharpen its play and maintain momentum at home, where the Bulldogs are 23-6 this season. They have won eight of their last 10 games overall.
The Bulldogs have a strong home-field advantage, leading the country in average attendance at 11,750 fans per game and ranking second in total attendance with 340,759 spectators. The team has drawn several record-setting crowds at Dudy Noble Field this season, including 15,289 fans during the April 25 game against LSU.
Mississippi State leads the all-time series against Nicholls 12-1 and has won all nine meetings at home, outscoring the Colonels 57-18. The Bulldogs secured their last victory over Nicholls last season with a 2-1 win in Biloxi.
For Tuesday’s game, right-hander Chris Billingsley Jr. will take the mound for MSU against Nicholls left-hander Austin Vargas. Billingsley, a junior, sports a 1-0 record with a 4.87 ERA, 15 strikeouts, and 12 walks this season. Vargas is 0-2 with a 7.50 ERA, 24 strikeouts, and 22 walks.
Mississippi State’s offense boasts a .306 batting average, a .408 on-base percentage, and a .527 slugging percentage, ranking among the nation’s most potent lineups. The team leads the SEC and ranks eighth nationally with 111 doubles, led by Ace Reese with 19 doubles and Bryce Chance with 17. The Bulldogs have hit 80 home runs compared to 46 by Nicholls.
Reese, a junior third baseman, is batting .304 with 15 home runs and 54 RBIs. Chance, a graduate outfielder, is hitting .363 with 57 hits and 26 RBIs. Freshman Jacob Parker adds power with a .330 average, nine home runs, and 37 RBIs. Other key contributors include Noah Sullivan, Gehrig Frei, Reed Stallman, Aidan Teel, and Kevin Milewski.
Pitching has been vital for MSU, which holds a 3.79 ERA. The team has struck out 540 batters in 416 innings, ranking 11th nationally in ERA and fifth in strikeouts per nine innings. Nicholls, under coach Brent Haring, stands at 25-22 overall and 15-12 in the Southland Conference. The Colonels are proficient on the base paths, with 51 steals in 63 attempts.
For more information, fans can visit www.HailState.com or follow the team on social media at ‘HailStateBB’ on X, Facebook, and Instagram.
