Mississippi State
Samford
No. 17 State Travels To Samford On Tuesday
April 13, 2026 | Baseball
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - No. 17 Mississippi State heads across the state line on Tuesday night looking to reassert the form that carried it through a dominant start to the 2026 season.
MSU (26-7) faces Samford at Joe Lee Griffin Field, renewing a regional matchup that State has controlled historically, owning a 41-11 series advantage and entering on a three-game winning streak in the series.
First pitch is set for 6 p.m. on ESPN+, with junior right-hander Chris Billingsley Jr. slated to make his third consecutive midweek start for Mississippi State. Samford is expected to counter with right-hander Ryan Vermillion, a redshirt sophomore who enters with a 1-0 record and a 5.40 ERA.
MSU arrives in Birmingham in the midst of a brief skid, dropping three straight and four of its last six contests, but the bigger picture still reflects one of the nation's most complete teams. State has excelled on both sides of the ball, combining a deep, power-hitting lineup with a pitching staff that consistently misses bats and limits free passes.
At the plate, Mississippi State has been one of the most productive offenses in the SEC, hitting .318 as a team while piling up extra-base hits and drawing walks at a high rate. MSU's balanced attack is led by All-American third baseman Ace Reese, who has delivered a team-high 10 home runs and 42 RBIs while serving as a consistent run producer in the order.
State has also received significant contributions from across the lineup. Gehrig Frei has been one of the club's most versatile and productive hitters, carrying a .350 average, while Bryce Chance continues to pace the team in hits and owns a .376 batting mark. Noah Sullivan provides another steady presence with a .343 average and six home runs, and freshman Jacob Parker has added punch with seven long balls.
On the mound, Mississippi State will rely on Billingsley to set the tone. The junior has shown steady progress throughout the season, stretching out in recent appearances and coming off a career-long outing in his last start. His ability to command the strike zone and work efficiently will be key as MSU looks to control the tempo early.
Pitching has been a strength for Mississippi State all season, with the staff ranking among the national leaders in strikeouts and strikeout-to-walk ratio while holding opponents to a low batting average. That combination has allowed State to dictate games and limit scoring opportunities.
Samford (17-17) presents a capable midweek challenge, featuring an offense that can produce runs and a lineup with power throughout. The homestanding Bulldogs are hitting .286 as a team with 51 home runs, yet carries a 6.29 ERA on the mound.
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