Mississippi State Looks to Snap SEC Skid Against South Carolina

Bulldogs visit Gamecocks in key conference matchup

Apr. 17, 2026 at 8:39pm

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A dynamic, cubist-inspired illustration depicting the action and energy of a college baseball game, with the players and field fragmented into sharp, overlapping geometric shapes in the colors of the competing teams.Two storied SEC baseball programs clash as Mississippi State looks to regain its footing against a scrappy South Carolina squad.Columbia Today

No. 17 Mississippi State travels to South Carolina on Friday night looking to end its six-game SEC losing streak. The Bulldogs will send left-hander Tomas Valincius to the mound against South Carolina's Brandon Stone. The Gamecocks have shown signs of life under interim coach Monte Lee, sweeping Missouri last weekend after previously challenging Georgia and Texas.

Why it matters

Mississippi State has fallen below .500 in SEC play during its recent slide, and a road trip to face the struggling Gamecocks presents an opportunity to get back on track. South Carolina, meanwhile, is hoping to play spoiler and build momentum heading into the second half of conference action.

The details

Mississippi State left-hander Tomas Valincius has been dominant this season, posting a 6-1 record with a 1.53 ERA and 72 strikeouts in 53 innings. He'll face off against South Carolina right-hander Brandon Stone, who has a 4-1 record and 2.89 ERA. The Gamecocks made a midseason coaching change, dismissing Paul Mainieri and elevating assistant Monte Lee as the interim head coach. Since the switch, South Carolina has started to show more fight, challenging Georgia and Texas before sweeping Missouri last weekend.

  • The series opener is scheduled for 6 p.m. ET on Friday, April 17, 2026.
  • Mississippi State is coming off an 11-1 (7 innings) win over Samford in its last game.
  • South Carolina most recently defeated Davidson 8-6.

The players

Tomas Valincius

Mississippi State left-handed pitcher with a 6-1 record, 1.53 ERA, and 72 strikeouts in 53 innings this season.

Brandon Stone

South Carolina right-handed pitcher with a 4-1 record and 2.89 ERA.

Monte Lee

South Carolina's interim head coach, who previously spent seven seasons as the head coach at Clemson.

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What they’re saying

“We must find a way to get back on track this weekend against South Carolina. It's a crucial conference series for us.”

— Chris Lemonis, Mississippi State Head Coach

What’s next

If Mississippi State can secure a series win over South Carolina, it would help the Bulldogs regain their footing in SEC play and potentially put them back in contention for an NCAA Tournament berth.

The takeaway

This series represents an important opportunity for both teams. Mississippi State needs to end its SEC skid, while South Carolina is looking to build on its recent momentum under interim coach Monte Lee and play spoiler against a ranked opponent.