The road to Omaha starts now! Mississippi State baseball (34-21, 15-15 SEC) takes on Northeastern (48-9, 25-2 CAA) in the Tallahassee Regional. The 3-seed Bulldogs are squaring off with the nation's hottest team in the 2-seed Huskies. Here's how to watch plus some notes on the matchup...
What time does Mississippi State baseball play Northeastern?
The Diamond Dawgs will begin regional play under the lights in Tallahassee. Mississippi State and Northeastern are scheduled to begin their game Friday night at 6:30 PM CT at Dick Howser Stadium.
What TV channel is the Mississippi State baseball game on?
Friday night's regional opener between the Bulldogs and Huskies will not be broadcast on a traditional network and will instead be available only through streaming on ESPN+. ESPN+ is a subscription-based service separate from the standard network of ESPN channels that does not come with most base TV packages.
Pitching matchup between Mississippi State and Northeastern
Mississippi State will go with junior right-hander Ben Davis on the mound, a somewhat surprising move. Davis has made just three starts on the year, primarily working as one of State's top arms out of the bullpen. He is 3-2 on the season with one save and owns a 3.96 ERA with a 55:22 strikeout-to-walk ratio.
Northeastern is the nation's best pitching team statistically, and they're rolling with their ace. Left-handed graduate Will Jones has put together a brilliant 2025 season. He is a perfect 11-0 on the year with a stellar 1.82 ERA. Jones has struck out 72 strikeouts while issuing just 17 walks.
Key batters for the Bulldogs and Huskies
For Mississippi State, third-baseman Ace Reese has been a superstar. The sophomore is batting .371 with 21 home runs and 66 RBI, all numbers that put him amongst the very best hitters in the SEC. He leads a Bulldog lineup that is collectively batting .307 and is one of the best power-hitting lineups in the nation.
Northeastern's prowess is mostly on the mound, but they've got some pop in the lineup as well. Outfielder Harrison Feinberg is batting .379 with 18 home runs and 66 RPI to lead a lineup that's batting .290. The Huskies are also incredibly aggressive and successful when it comes to stealing bases.
Mississippi State vs Northeastern prediction
Northeastern is a dangerous mid-major with their strong pitching staff and enough talent in the lineup, but they haven't faced a team with the talent of Mississippi State. If the Diamond Dawgs can be patient at the plate and avoid mistakes fielding, they should be able to edge out the Huskies.
Mississippi State wins 4-3