Mississippi State
Vanderbilt
Sixth-Ranked State Welcomes Commodores
March 19, 2026 | Baseball
STARKVILLE – Dudy Noble Field will be the place to be this weekend as sixth-ranked Mississippi State hosts its first SEC series of the Brian O'Connor era.
The Diamond Dawgs welcome Vanderbilt to town for a three-game series starting on Friday at 7 p.m. on SEC Network. The series continues Saturday at 6 p.m. and Sunday at 1 p.m. with the final two contests streamed on SEC Network+.
MSU has won 15-straight games at Dudy Noble Field dating back to last season and are 20-1 at home since April 20, 2025. The Bulldogs are a perfect 13-0 at "The Dude" so far this spring.
State will once again send three standout sophomores to the mound this weekend. Right-hander Ryan McPherson gets the ball first on Friday. McPherson is 3-0 with a 2.48 earned run average, 36 strikeouts and only five walks across 29 innings. The Commodores will counter with junior righty Connor Fennell, who is 2-0 with a 5.47 ERA, 38 strikeouts and six walks in 26 1/3 frames.
Reigning SEC Pitcher of the Week Tomas Valincius (4-0, 1.30 ERA, 33 K, 8 BB) – a southpaw - takes the bump on Saturday for the Diamond Dawgs while Vandy goes with freshman right-hander Wyatt Nadeau (1-0, 1.50 ERA, 25 K, 8 BB). Righty Duke Stone (3-0, 3.63 ERA, 33 K, 4 BB) is slated to start for Mississippi State on Sunday while the Commodores have not confirmed their pitching plans.
This weekend marks the first meeting between State and Vandy since the 2024 SEC Tournament. The Diamond Dawgs hold a 76-59-2 overall advantage in the series.
The Bulldogs are 1-2 in league play after dropping a series at then No. 5 Arkansas last weekend, but are 17-4 overall after a decisive 17-1 victory over Jackson State in seven innings on Tuesday.
MSU ranks in the top 15 nationally in doubles (57, 4th), scoring (10.2, 9th), batting average (.341, 10th), on-base percentage (.449, 10th), runs (214, 11th) and hits (240, 12th). The Diamond Dawgs have blasted 30 homers, swiped 36 bases in 45 tries and sport a .980 fielding percentage.
Graduate outfielder Bryce Chance leads the State regulars hitting .431 on the year and also tops the team with seven steals. All-American third baseman Ace Reese has a team-high 30 hits, 11 doubles, six homers and 31 RBIs.
The Bulldogs have also proven to best pitching staffs in the country having logged three one-hitters already this season. Mississippi State ranks eighth nationally with a strikeout-to-walk ratio of 3.65 and also ninth with three shutouts. It has a collective ERA of 3.69 with 237 strikeouts and 65 walks in 178 innings while holding hitters to a .216 batting average.
McPherson tops the Diamond Dawgs in strikeouts while relievers Dane Burns and Jackson Logar still have perfect ERAs. Closer Ben Davis has recorded two of the team's five saves this spring.
Vanderbilt brings a 13-9 overall record with it, including a series win over defending national champion and then 13th-ranked LSU at home last weekend. The Commodores are coming off a 5-1 loss to Indiana in Nashville on Tuesday.
Vandy is No. 2 nationally with 52 home runs, rank fourth in slugging (.603) and 10th in drawing walks (136). Tim Corbin's club is batting .308 and scoring 8.6 runs per game. They have also stolen 26 bases in 31 attempts and have a fielding percentage of .979.
Brodie Johnston tops Vanderbilt hitting .393 while Braden Holcomb is tied for second in the league with 11 long balls to go along with 33 RBIs. Rigdon Rustan has been the Commodores biggest base thief with six steals in seven tries.
Fennell leads the way in strikeouts while Austin Nye, Nate Schlote and Adria Casoliba all sport flawless ERAs. Tristan Bristow and England Bryan are responsible for both of Vanderbilt's saves this season. Â
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