No. 5 Arkansas Opens SEC Play Against No. 3 Mississippi State

Top-five matchup kicks off conference schedule for both teams

Mar. 13, 2026 at 3:50pm

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Fifth-ranked Arkansas will open Southeastern Conference play this weekend with a top-five matchup against No. 3 Mississippi State at Baum-Walker Stadium. The three-game series begins on Friday, with the teams also playing on Saturday and Sunday.

Why it matters

This series marks the start of SEC competition for both teams, who are two of the top-ranked programs in the country. Arkansas has been one of the most consistent SEC teams over the past decade, while Mississippi State is also a perennial contender.

The details

The pitching matchups for the series are expected to feature Arkansas right-hander Gabe Gaeckle against Mississippi State's Ryan McPherson on Friday, Arkansas left-hander Hunter Dietz against Mississippi State's Tomas Valincius on Saturday, and Arkansas left-hander Colin Fisher against Mississippi State's Duke Stone on Sunday.

  • The series begins on Friday, March 14, 2026 at 6 PM.
  • The Saturday game is scheduled for 1 PM on March 15, 2026.
  • The series finale is set for 2 PM on Sunday, March 16, 2026.

The players

Gabe Gaeckle

Arkansas right-handed pitcher expected to start on Friday.

Ryan McPherson

Mississippi State pitcher expected to start against Arkansas on Friday.

Hunter Dietz

Arkansas left-handed pitcher scheduled to start on Saturday.

Tomas Valincius

Mississippi State pitcher scheduled to start against Arkansas on Saturday.

Colin Fisher

Arkansas left-handed pitcher projected to start the series finale on Sunday.

Duke Stone

Mississippi State pitcher expected to start against Arkansas on Sunday.

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The takeaway

This top-five SEC matchup between Arkansas and Mississippi State will be an early test for both teams as they look to establish themselves as contenders in the highly competitive conference.