Ace Reese powers Bulldogs to sweep of Hofstra

Mississippi State slugger returns from injury to lead team at the plate

Published on Feb. 15, 2026

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Ace Reese, the star slugger for the Mississippi State Bulldogs baseball team, made a triumphant return from injury, leading his team to a sweep of Hofstra over the opening weekend. Reese hit a crucial three-run homer in the second inning of the third game, sparking the Bulldogs to victory after they had fallen behind early.

Why it matters

Reese's performance is a major boost for the Bulldogs, who are counting on the All-American to power their offense this season. After sitting out the fall due to a surgically-repaired toe, Reese's return to full strength is a relief for the team and its fans.

The details

In the three-game series, Reese went 5-for-12 with four RBIs and six runs scored, accounting for nearly a third of Mississippi State's total scoring. His big blow came in the second inning of the third game, when he launched a three-run homer to right-center to give the Bulldogs the lead. Though Hofstra would retake the advantage, Mississippi State rallied back to complete the sweep.

  • Reese sat out the entire fall ball season to recover from toe surgery.
  • The three-game series against Hofstra took place on February 13-15, 2026.

The players

Ace Reese

The star slugger for the Mississippi State Bulldogs baseball team, known for his power hitting and ability to drive in runs.

Chone Janes

The Bulldogs' catcher, who was on base when Reese hit his three-run homer.

James Nunnallee

The Bulldogs' right fielder, who was also on base when Reese hit his three-run homer.

Christian Rasmussen

The Hofstra pitcher who gave up Reese's three-run homer in the second inning.

Brian O'Connor

The Bulldogs' head coach, who noted that the competitive opening series against Hofstra would benefit the team in the long run.

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What they’re saying

“I feel 100% out there on the field, it's been a while since I played like that. So it was a big one off my shoulders and getting to play with these boys was fun.”

— Ace Reese (247sports.com)

“The biggest thing is you can't put pressure on yourself in those situation, you've got to trust the work you put in. The guys got on ahead of me and I got the pitch to hit.”

— Ace Reese (247sports.com)

“That's a conversation we had in the dugout. Coach Oak even said we would rather have those games that are close early, get the heart rate up so we know what it's like when we get into those SEC games that are going to be tight.”

— Brian O'Connor, Head Coach (247sports.com)

What’s next

The Bulldogs will look to build on their opening weekend sweep when they take on their next opponent, a tough SEC foe, in their next series.

The takeaway

Ace Reese's return to form is a major boost for the Mississippi State Bulldogs, who are counting on the slugger's power to lead them to success this season. The competitive opening series against Hofstra has also prepared the team for the challenges they'll face in SEC play.