CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. — A skid of more than two years without postseason play has come to an end for Mississippi State baseball.

The Bulldogs (38-21) are in the Charlottesville Regional of the NCAA Tournament where they open play Friday. As the No. 2 seed, Mississippi State is slated to face No. 3 seed St. John’s (37-16-1).

Action in Charlottesville includes No. 1 seed and host Virginia (41-15) along with No. 4 seed Penn (24-23).

MORE: Buy tickets for Mississippi State baseball in the Charlottesville Regional

Mississippi State has failed to advance beyond the regular season since its 2021 national championship run. However, after winning 17 conference games in this year’s regular season and winning two contests in the SEC tournament, the Bulldogs delivered a résumé worthy of postseason baseball.

St. John’s comes to Charlottesville off a Big East tournament title. This year marks the first NCAA Tournament bid for the Red Storm since 2018.

Friday’s meeting marks the first in history between Mississippi State and St. John’s.

MORE: Watch Mississippi State baseball vs. St. John’s with ESPN+ (subscribe now)

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Mississippi State vs St. John’s start time

Mississippi State vs St. John’s prediction

Mississippi State beats St. John’s, 4-2: MSU’s offense comes into the Charlottesville Regional off a sluggish offensive showing at the SEC tournament. Against a quality St. John’s pitching staff, scoring could be difficult. However, with Khal Stephen on the mound, Mississippi State is hard to pick against.

Mississippi State vs St. John’s location

Mississippi State and St. John’s are playing at Davenport Field in Charlottesville, Virginia.

Mississippi State lineup

• LF Bryce Chance
• SS David Mershon
• RF Dakota Jordan
• 1B Hunter Hines
• CF Connor Hujsak
• 2B Amani Larry
• 3B Logan Kohler
• DH Aaron Downs
• C Joe Powell
• SP Khal Stephen

St. John’s lineup

• CF Jackson Tucker
• LF Garrett Scavelli
• 3B Blake Mayberry
• C Jimmy Keenan
• 1B Marty Higgins
• DH Paul Orbon
• RF Ben Beauchamp
• SS Luke Orbon
• 2B Anthony Brienza

Mississippi State vs St. John’s tickets

A limited number of general admission and reserved tickets are available to purchase through UVA.

Tickets can also be purchased through a third-party at StubHub.com.

Mississippi State baseball vs. St. John’s score update

Mississippi State baseball schedule 2024

View the 2024 schedule for Mississippi State here.

St. John’s baseball schedule 2024

View the 2024 schedule for St. John’s here.

Mississippi State baseball roster

View Mississippi State’s 2024 roster here.

St. John’s baseball roster

View the St. John’s 2024 roster here.

Charlottesville Regional schedule

All times CDT

Friday’s games

Game 1: No. 1 Virginia vs. No. 4 Penn, 11 a.m., ESPN+

Game 2: No. 2 Mississippi State vs. No. 3 St. John’s, 6 p.m., ESPN+

Saturday games

Game 3: Game 1 loser vs. Game 2 loser, 11 a.m., TBD

Game 4: Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner, 5 p.m., TBD

Sunday games

Game 5: Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 loser, 11 a.m., TBD

Game 6: Game 4 winner vs. Game 5 winner, 5 p.m., TBD

Monday game

Game 7: Game 6 winner vs. Game 6 loser (if necessary), TBD

Charlottesville Regional bracket

Charlottesville Regional odds

Mississippi State baseball is favored (-450) to beat St. John’s on Friday, according to BetMGM.

Virginia (-110) is a slight favorite to win the Charlottesville Regional. MSU is close behind (+110). St. John’s (+1400) and Penn (+3000) are longshots.

Charlottesville Regional tickets

A limited number of general admission and reserved tickets are available to purchase through UVA.

Tickets can also be purchased through a third-party at StubHub.com.

2024 College World Series bracket

2024 NCAA baseball tournament odds

Mississippi State is a longshot to win the College World Series (+4000), according to BetMGM.

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One person is dead after a shooting that involved an officer in the Jackson Police Department.

The shooting occurred on Dixon Road in Northwest Jackson Thursday, according to a press release from the Mississippi Department of Public Safety. The Mississippi Bureau of Investigation is now investigating.

According to the release, the person, who’s identity has not been given, approached and presented a weapon to the JPD officer who was in a patrol vehicle. The officer then shot the subject.

The officer did not sustain any serious injuries.

This information is preliminary and could change, the press release states.

Mississippi State is back in the postseason, and they will send their ace to the mound. Khal Stephen has been steady for State all year, holding an 8-3 record with a 3.38 ERA.

Navigating through a regional regarding pitching is difficult because the odds are State will face their stiffest competition in the second game. However, MSU must avoid the losers bracket, so they opt to go with their ace.

The best scenario for MSU would be to get a good start from the junior right-hander and save their bullpen for game two. Hunter Hines and Dakota Jordan have both been in a slump at the plate, combining for only one hit during the SEC tournament.

Regardless of pitching, MSU will only advance to the Super Regionals next week if the two Mississippi natives provide some production.

Mississippi State baseball versus St John’s at 6 p.m. CT on ESPN+

No Games Scheduled

Countdown to Mississippi State’s Season Opener

92 Days

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