Mississippi State
Grambling
No. 4 MSU Meets Grambling In Midweek Matchup
March 30, 2026 | Baseball
STARKVILLE - Riding one of the nation's hottest starts and fresh off a statement weekend, No. 4 Mississippi State returns home Tuesday looking to keep its momentum rolling as it hosts Grambling State at Dudy Noble Field.
First pitch is set for 6 p.m. on SEC Network +.
The Diamond Dawgs enter the midweek matchup at 24-4 overall and 7-2 in SEC play, carrying an eight-game winning streak and having won nine of their last 10 contests. State has been nearly untouchable in Starkville, boasting a 17-0 home record this season and a dominant stretch at The Dude dating back to late April of last year.
Mississippi State's recent surge has been fueled by a balanced attack that ranks among the nation's best. The Bulldogs are hitting .337 as a team with 46 home runs and a .564 slugging percentage, while the pitching staff owns a 3.23 ERA and has held opponents to a .208 batting average.
Grambling State (9-17, 6-3 SWAC) arrives looking to play spoiler, but the Tigers face a daunting task against an MSU club that has controlled the all-time series. The Bulldogs hold a 5-0 advantage, including a 21-2 rout in the most recent meeting in Starkville in 2023.
On the mound, MSU is expected to turn to right-hander Chris Billingsley Jr., who is 1-0 with a 5.19 ERA across eight appearances this season. The junior has shown flashes out of the bullpen, including a perfect outing against Tulane and a scoreless two-inning start versus Southern Miss last week, as he continues to carve out a larger role on the staff.
Offensively, the Diamond Dawgs continue to be led by one of the SEC's most consistent bats in Bryce Chance. The graduate outfielder is hitting a league-best .435 and has been nearly impossible to strike out, fanning just three times all season and none in conference play.
He's far from alone in a deep MSU lineup. Ace Reese, a preseason All-American, paces the power surge with eight home runs and 37 RBIs, while Noah Sullivan (.354, six homers) and Jacob Parker (.346, six homers) provide additional punch. The Bulldogs' ability to produce throughout the order has been a defining trait during their current run.
Under first-year head coach Brian O'Connor, the Bulldogs have quickly established themselves as a national contender. The veteran skipper brought a championship pedigree to Starkville, and his new-look roster — bolstered by one of the nation's top transfer classes — has meshed seamlessly with a core of returning standouts.
The environment at Dudy Noble Field continues to be a major factor, as MSU leads the nation in attendance (11,521) and routinely plays in front of the largest crowds in college baseball.
Visit www.HailState.com for the latest news and information on the baseball program. Fans can also follow the program on social media by searching 'HailStateBB' on X, Facebook and Instagram.
