TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Mississippi State is poised for action in the Tallahassee Regional, where the Diamond Dawgs have historically found success. With prior appearances in Florida State’s NCAA Regional, they have claimed victory twice, advancing to the prestigious College World Series in both 2007 and 2018.
This year, Mississippi State enters as the No. 3 seed and is set to clash with the second-seeded and 19th-ranked Northeastern on Friday at 6:30 p.m. CT, available for streaming on ESPN+. The day’s lineup will begin with the host and seventh-ranked Florida State facing SWAC champion Bethune-Cookman at 2 p.m. on the ACC Network.
In an effort to secure a win against Northeastern, Mississippi State will rely on their sinkerball specialist, Ben Davis, who is making his fourth start of the season. This junior right-hander has recorded a 3-2 record with one save and a 3.96 earned run average, tallied 58 strikeouts, and allowed 22 walks across 52 1/3 innings.
The Huskies are entering the competition with a formidable ace, Will Jones, boasting an impressive 11-0 record from 14 starts and a low 1.82 ERA along with 72 strikeouts over 69 1/3 innings.
For both teams, this matchup will mark their first-ever meeting. Northeastern currently holds the nation’s longest active winning streak at 27 games.
Mississippi State has a strong NCAA Regional legacy, marking its 41st appearance with a respectable overall record of 34-21. Despite a recent setback, suffering a 9-0 loss against Texas A&M in the SEC Tournament’s opening round, they are bringing a powerful offensive force, hitting .307 as a team with a remarkable 97 home runs and scoring an average of 9.4 runs per game.
Ace Reese, the sophomore third baseman, shines as a key player, leading in numerous SEC offensive categories. With a slugging percentage of .767 and a batting average of .371, he has been pivotal in the Diamond Dawgs’ success, recently extending his hitting streak to a career-long 22 games. Alongside him, senior first baseman Hunter Hines leads all active Division I players in career home runs.
Mississippi State’s impressive pitching staff remains a standout, averaging 11.8 strikeouts per nine innings and a collective earned run average of 4.44. Their dominant performance continues to stymie opposing hitters, with a mere .228 batting average against them.
On the other side, Northeastern arrives with the best record in the nation at 48-9, eager to secure their first NCAA Tournament win since 1997. They are led by Mike Glavine, brother of MLB Hall of Famer Tom Glavine, and they have demonstrated their exceptional prowess with both hitting and pitching this season.
Their offense, highlighted by Harrison Feinberg’s impressive .379 batting average and 36 stolen bases, complements a pitching staff that ranks first in the country in ERA, boasting a 2.92 mark alongside the highest number of shutouts.
Anticipation is building for this clash of talent, where both teams will look to make their mark in NCAA history during this exciting regional battle. Fans can stay updated through Mississippi State’s official site and social media platforms for more information on the baseball program.