Tennessee Baseball Faces Tough Test at No. 9 Mississippi State

Vols look to bounce back in SEC play against the Bulldogs

Apr. 10, 2026 at 1:44pm

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A vibrant, abstract painting featuring sharp, overlapping geometric shapes and planes of color, representing the dynamic action and competition of a college baseball game.A cubist interpretation of the high-stakes matchup between Tennessee and Mississippi State baseball, capturing the intensity and energy of the game through fragmented geometric forms.Starkville Today

Tennessee baseball hits the road this weekend to take on No. 9 Mississippi State in a three-game SEC series. The Vols are looking to rebound after losing five of their last six conference games, while the Bulldogs are aiming to bounce back from being swept at home by Georgia last weekend.

Why it matters

This series is crucial for Tennessee's NCAA Tournament hopes, as the Vols need to start stacking up SEC wins. Meanwhile, Mississippi State is one of the top teams in the conference and will be highly motivated to get back on track after their disappointing showing against Georgia.

The details

Tennessee will send Landon Mack, Tegan Kuhns, and Evan Blanco to the mound against Mississippi State's Tomas Valincius, Duke Stone, and Charlie Foster. The Vols will be without utility man Chris Newstrom, who is dealing with an internal issue and will not make the trip.

  • The series opener is set for 7 p.m. ET on Friday, April 10.
  • Game two is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET on Saturday, April 11.
  • The series finale is slated for 2 p.m. ET on Sunday, April 12.

The players

Landon Mack

Tennessee's right-handed starting pitcher with a 3-2 record, 3.48 ERA, and 58 strikeouts in 44 innings.

Tomas Valincius

Mississippi State's left-handed starting pitcher with a 6-1 record, 1.15 ERA, and 66 strikeouts in 47 innings.

Chris Newstrom

Tennessee's sophomore utility player who is dealing with an internal issue and will not make the trip to Starkville.

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What they’re saying

“Tennessee is desperate for wins after losing five of its last six SEC games. It's been a common theme for the Vols in SEC play.”

— Ryan Schumpert, Author

What’s next

The winner of this series will gain valuable momentum in the SEC standings as the regular season winds down.

The takeaway

This weekend's matchup between Tennessee and No. 9 Mississippi State is a crucial one for both teams. The Vols need to start stacking up SEC wins to boost their NCAA Tournament hopes, while the Bulldogs are looking to bounce back after a disappointing series against Georgia. The pitching matchups should make for some exciting baseball in Starkville.