STARKVILLE — Mississippi State baseball’s second opponent in the NCAA Tournament Starkville Regional has been set.
The No. 14 national seed Bulldogs (41-17) will face No. 2 Cincinnati (38-20) at Dudy Noble Field on May 30 (8 p.m.). The winner will advance to the regional final on May 31.
The Bearcats stormed by No. 3 Louisiana, 12-2, on May 29. After falling behind 1-0, they slugged six home runs to win, with three by Jack Natili.
Mississippi State also won handily in its first regional game, 10-1 against No. 4 Lipscomb.
Mississippi State is 3-0 all time against the Bearcats, sweeping them at Dudy Noble Field in 2015.
Tomas Valincius (10-2, 2.93 ERA) will be MSU’s starting pitcher against Cincinnati.
Louisiana will play No. 4 Lipscomb in an elimination game before MSU plays on May 30.
Starkville Regional schedule in 2026 NCAA baseball tournament
All games at Dudy Noble Field; double elimination format; game times in Central
Friday, May 29
- Game 1: Mississippi State 10, Lipscomb 1
- Game 2: Cincinnati 12, Louisiana 2
Saturday, May 30
- Game 3: Lipscomb vs. Louisiana, 3 p.m., TBA
- Game 4: Mississippi State vs. Cincinnati, 8 p.m., TBA
Sunday, May 31
- Game 5: Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 loser, 2 p.m., TBA
- Game 6: Game 4 winner vs. Game 5 winner, 7 p.m., TBA
Monday, June 1
- Game 7 (if necessary): TBA
Sam Sklar is the Mississippi State beat reporter for The Clarion Ledger. Email him at ssklar@usatodayco.com and follow him on X @sklarsam_.
This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Mississippi State baseball to face Cincinnati next in NCAA Tournament