Mississippi State baseball starting pitcher revealed for next NCAA Tournament game

[ASFN Admin]

STARKVILLE — Mississippi State baseball is rolling out its ace pitcher for the second game of the Starkville Regional in the NCAA Tournament.

Tomas Valincius will start on May 30, regardless of the opponent, coach Brian O'Connor announced.

The No. 14 national seed Bulldogs (41-17) will play the winner of No. 2 region seed Cincinnati versus No. 3 Louisiana at Dudy Noble Field at 8 p.m.

MSU breezed by No. 4 Lipscomb with a 10-1 win on May 29. Duke Stone pitched six shutout innings, while Tyler Pitzer and Jack Gleason were the only other pitchers needed.


Valincius, the left hander who transferred from Virginia, was an All-SEC first-team selection this season. He has a 2.93 ERA and 10-2 record.

A win for Mississippi State on May 30 would put it into the Starkville Regional final on May 31.

MORE: Is Ryan McPherson difference between Mississippi State baseball early exit or CWS run?

Starkville Regional schedule in 2026 NCAA baseball tournament​

All games at Dudy Noble Field; double elimination format; game times in Central

Friday, May 29

• Game 1: Mississippi State 10, Lipscomb 1
• Game 2: Cincinnati vs. Louisiana, 6 p.m. on ESPN+

Saturday, May 30

• Game 3: Lipscomb vs. Game 2 loser, 3 p.m., TBA
• Game 4: Mississippi State vs. Game 2 winner, 8 p.m., TBA

Sunday, May 31

• Game 5: Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 loser, 2 p.m., TBA
• Game 6: Game 4 winner vs. Game 5 winner, 7 p.m., TBA

Monday, June 1

• Game 7 (if necessary): TBA

Sam Sklar is the Mississippi State beat reporter for The Clarion Ledger. Email him at [email protected] and follow him on X @sklarsam_.

This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Mississippi State starting pitcher in NCAA regional is Tomas Valincius

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