Mississippi
What went well in Mississippi State baseball opening series and what could’ve been better
STARKVILLE — Mississippi State baseball didn’t have any run-rule wins but swept Hofstra at Dudy Noble Field to begin the 2026 season.
The Bulldogs (3-0) and new coach Brian O’Connor won the opener 6-5 on Feb. 13. Then, they won both games of the Feb. 14 doubleheader, 6-1 and 7-5.
The 12,824 attendance at Dudy Noble Field on Feb. 13 was the largest opening day crowd in program history. MSU plays two midweek games next against Troy on Feb. 17 (4 p.m., SEC Network+) and Alcorn State on Feb. 18 (4 p.m., SEC Network+).
“Wouldn’t I love a blowout at some point? Sure, I would and a chance to breathe a little bit,” O’Connor said. “But it’s good for those players to be in the fire.”
Here’s what we learned from Mississippi State’s sweep against Hofstra (0-3).
Ace Reese still mashing after toe surgery
MSU star third baseman Ace Reese missed all of fall practices after undergoing toe surgery. It didn’t have any negative impact on his opening weekend after receiving numerous preseason All-American selections.
The junior batted 5-for-12 with three doubles, a home run, four RBIs and six runs. Reese’s three-run home run in Game 3 was the Bulldogs’ only homer of the series.
“It was a big sigh of relief to come back,” Reese said. “I feel 100% out there on the field.”
The Bulldogs only had three hits in Game 1 but drew eight walks. They had eight hits in Game 2 and 10 hits in Game 3.
“Obviously it’s still early and it’s the beginning of the season,” O’Connor said. “Our guys have collected up enough at-bats. Some of them need to slow their heart rate down a little bit, candidly, in big key moments and not press.”
Reed Stallman could be Mississippi State’s breakout player, but suffered an injury
O’Connor said Mississippi State wouldn’t have won the opener if it weren’t for Reed Stallman. Had Noah Sullivan not been serving a one-game suspension stemming from an ejection last season, Stallman might not have even been in the opening day lineup at designated hitter.
Stallman was 2-for-3 on Feb. 13 with three RBIs, a run and also a walk.
In Game 2, the graduate senior started at first base and was 1-for-3 with an RBI double and scored a run.
But Stallman exited in the fourth inning of Game 3 after an 0-for-2 start.
“On that swing, he did something and he just didn’t look comfortable to me,” O’Connor said. “He went to play defense the next inning and just did not look like he was moving around really well.
“We’ll assess him. I think it’s something maybe with his hip. I just didn’t want to take the chance and continue to have him be out there. I know the kid wanted to.”
Tomas Valincius, Brenden Sweeney were Mississippi State’s best pitchers
Mississippi State had a shutout in Game 2 until Hofstra hit a solo home run with two outs in the ninth inning. Tomas Valincius and Brenden Sweeney were the only two MSU pitchers needed in that game.
Valincius, a Virginia transfer, started and pitched 5⅓ innings with six strikeouts, four hits and one walk. Sweeney, a South Carolina transfer, allowed two hits and no walks in his 3⅔ innings.
Mississippi State’s other two starters were not as sharp, however. Ryan McPherson allowed two runs in four innings in the opener. Charlie Foster gave up a three-run home run in the first inning of Game 3, but didn’t concede a run in his innings after that.
Sam Sklar is the Mississippi State beat reporter for The Clarion Ledger. Email him at ssklar@usatodayco.com and follow him on X @sklarsam_.
Mississippi
It’s 2,350 miles long, spans 31 US states and is home to a 100kg animal with a tongue that looks like a worm | Discover Wildlife
The Mississippi River flows for around 2,350 miles through the heart of the US. It drains an area of 1.2 million square miles – that’s roughly 40% of the country – and at certain points is 11 miles wide. It is North America’s second longest river, behind the Missouri River.
Rising from Lake Itasca in Minnesota, the Mississippi winds southwards through a range of environments, draining water from 31 US states before reaching its delta at the Gulf of Mexico in Louisiana.
The sheer size of the river and the diversity of habitats it passes through make it a refuge for a huge range of animal species, including more than 260 fish, 326 birds, 50 mammals and at least 145 amphibians and reptiles, according to the National Park Service.
There are many weird and wonderful animals living within the Mississippi’s vast waters, but surely one of the strangest is the alligator snapping turtle.
This prehistoric-looking reptile is massive. It can weigh up to 100kg and males can grow well over half a metre long, making it the largest freshwater turtle in North America.
And as if its size wasn’t enough, the alligator snapper has a host of other characteristics that make it one of the Mississippi’s most striking creatures, including a dark, spiky shell (known as carapace), a brick-like head and a sharp, hooked beak. With such a formidable appearance, it’s easy to see how the turtle got its ‘alligator’ name.
But perhaps the turtle’s most curious feature is a worm-like appendage found on its tongue, which it uses as a lure to catch prey, such as fish, amphibians and invertebrates. Alligator snappers are also quite happy scavenging for food.
More amazing wildlife stories from around the world
NIL money comes with a price. More specifically, a tax bill.
The Mississippi legislature is trying to reduce that burden for college athletes who play there.
Via Bea Anhuci of the Mississippi Clarion Ledger, the Mississippi House of Representatives has passed a bill that would exempt NIL earnings from state income tax.
It’s a recruiting tool for Ole Miss and Mississippi State, one that would put the Mississippi schools on equal footing with other states that host SEC universities. Florida, Tennessee, and Texas have no state income tax, and Arkansas carved out NIL earnings from the state’s income tax burden in 2025.
Mississippi currently charges a four-percent tax on anyone making more than $10,000 per year.
NIL earnings remain subject to federal income tax.
The bill will have to also pass the Mississippi Senate, and the governor would then be required to sign it into law.
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