STARKVILLE — Mississippi State baseball continues its homestand in SEC play this weekend with a series against Tennessee, beginning with Game 1 at Dudy Noble Field today at 6 p.m.

The Bulldogs (26-7, 7-5 SEC) haven’t beaten Tennessee since taking a 2-1 series win in Knoxville seven years ago in Chris Lemonis’ first season as head coach. In the eight meetings since then, the Vols have dealt out some punishing blows, including a 27-2 win to open a 2022 series in Starkville and SEC Tournament wins in both 2021 and 2024.

Brian O’Connor’s 2026 squad is also looking to shake its most recent SEC series loss. The Bulldogs were swept by No. 4 Georgia at home last week, with all three games decided in the final innings.

The Vols are 21-12, but just 4-8 in SEC play with a 1-5 record in true road games. They have one SEC series win over Mizzou, but painful series losses at Georgia and Vanderbilt, and last weekend in Knoxville against LSU.

It hasn’t been the season fans in Knoxville had hoped for after the departure of Tony Vitello to the San Francisco Giants and ascension of Josh Elander to head coach. After another SEC series defeat at home, questions were raised about the squad’s ability to turn things around.

“I think that’s a fair question, but I know our guys in our dugout will never go that direction,” Elander said after the series loss to LSU last weekend. “I know that we talked about when things get tough, you have to link up with the guy next to you and get back off the mat. Four-and-eight in SEC play, no one wants us to be there, and no one expected that here, we need to be better. But we’ve been in positions like this before in the past. It’s our job as coaches to work them through that, keep them in it, make sure they’re focused on the process and getting a bit better each day.”

Henry Ford leads the team with 10 home runs and 31 RBI, highlighting a batting order that has struggled to take command in conference play.

The three primary starters have just six wins between them in 23 starts, with plenty of bullpen action to go around among the Vols’ staff.

“It’s a good group that just needs to keep throwing punches and get off the mat,” Elander added, “and we’ll make sure they do that.”

MSU fans can expect to see Landon Mack start on the mound after moving up to the Friday starter spot against LSU, tossing seven innings and allowing just one run in an eventual loss to the Tigers. He recorded 10 strikeouts in that game to just one walk and a single hit, a solo home run.

The Bulldogs will trot out Tomas Valincius, who’s moving up a spot to the Friday starter, with Duke Stone starting on Saturday and Charlie Foster moving to Sunday.

Player updates

Aidan Teel and Noah Sullivan both missed the Tuesday matchup against UAB, with Teel still recovering from a ball to the foot.

Sullivan was suspended due to his ejection from the Game 3 loss against Georgia last weekend. He exchanged some words with the umpire after a strikeout before he was tossed, resulting in a one-game suspension.

O’Connor said after the win over UAB that Teel was still recovering, but reiterated that nothing was broken. It was unclear whether Teel would be available for the start of the Tennessee series.

“He’ll have another MRI, more precautionary,” he said. “He hit (Monday) and woke up this morning and didn’t feel real good. Typically, that kind of bruise can take 4-5 days or a week. It’s kind of a day-to-day (thing).”

O’Connor also noted there was no further update on starting pitcher Ryan McPherson, who has been out since suffering a mild forearm strain against Vanderbilt three weeks ago. He avoided major damage, as is often feared with those kinds of injuries to pitchers, but he is not expected back any time soon.

“No update on McPherson other than there is no pain,” O’Connor said. “It’s just a matter of taking it slow and being smart. I can tell you, I don’t have the exact amount, but it will be multiple weeks before he is back.”

First pitch is set for 6 p.m. for both Friday and Saturday meetings, with Game 3 set for 1 p.m. Sunday. All three contests will be available to stream via SEC Network+.