Valincius Lifts No. 15 MSU To Victory Over Memphis

Tuesday, April 21

Starkville

6 p.m.

Mississippi State

31-10

Memphis

15-24

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Memphis	1	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	2	10	2
Mississippi State	0	0	0	2	0	1	0	3	X	6	8	1

Photo by: Mississippi State Athletics

Valincius Lifts No. 15 MSU To Victory Over Memphis

April 21, 2026 | Baseball

Box Score Photo Gallery

STARKVILLE - Vytas Valincius delivered the decisive swings with a pinch-hit RBI single in the sixth inning and with a three-run homer in the eighth, lifting No. 15 Mississippi State to a 6-2 victory over Memphis on Tuesday night at Dudy Noble Field.

The Diamond Dawgs (31-10) broke open a tight game late when Valincius launched a three-run shot to left field. The blast gave MSU breathing room after carrying a one-run lead into the eighth.

State pieced together the comeback after Memphis grabbed an early 1-0 lead in the first. Freddy Hernandez doubled and later scored on a single by James Smith IV to put the Tigers ahead.

Mississippi State answered in the fourth. Reed Stallman was hit by a pitch and Blake Bevis followed with a single that was misplayed in right, allowing both runners to move into scoring position. Jacob Parker tied the game with an RBI single and Ryder Woodson added a run-scoring groundout to make it 2-1.

Memphis evened the score in the fifth when Javon Hernandez homered to left, but the Bulldogs responded in the sixth. Bevis doubled down the left-field line before Valincius lined a pinch-hit RBI single to right for a 3-2 advantage.

Bevis paced the Mississippi State offense by going 3-for-4 with two doubles and two runs scored. Valincius finished 2 for 2 with four RBIs, while Parker added an RBI hit.

The Bulldogs used six pitchers to secure the midweek win. Maddox Miller (3-2) earned the victory with two scoreless innings and Maddox Webb recorded the final two outs for his second save after inheriting a bases-loaded jam in the ninth. Jack Gleason also struck out four in 1 2/3 scoreless innings of relief.

Memphis (15-24) collected 10 hits but stranded 11 runners. Hernandez led the Tigers by going 2-for-5 with a homer, double and two runs scored.

Mississippi State returns to SEC play for Super Bulldog Weekend hosting defending national champion LSU for a three-game series starting Friday at 6 p.m. on SEC Network+.

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