STARKVILLE — Ryan McPherson will be Mississippi State baseball’s starting pitcher in the Starkville Regional final on May 31, coach Brian O’Connor said.
The No. 14 national seed Bulldogs (42-17) need one win in two games at Dudy Noble Field against either No. 2 Cincinnati (38-21) or No. 3 Louisiana (40-24) to reach their first super regional since 2021. First pitch is scheduled for 7 p.m.
It will be McPherson’s third start since returning from a forearm strain. He hasn’t pitched longer than 2⅓ innings. However, O’Connor said McPherson threw five shutout innings in a team scrimmage on May 23.
“His return was all kind of predicated off being in a regional and an opportunity to start,” O’Connor said. “Now, the opportunity has presented itself, and I know he’s going to go out there as the competitor he is and give it everything he has for as long as I’ll leave him in the game.”
O’Connor did not say if McPherson will be on a pitch count.
McPherson, a sophomore, has a 3-1 record and 2.70 ERA. He was MSU’s No. 1 weekend starter before sustaining the injury in March against Vanderbilt.
McPherson pitched twice in last season’s Tallahassee Regional, both out of the bullpen. He threw four shutout innings against Northeastern and then allowed two runs in one inning against Florida State.
Starkville Regional schedule in 2026 NCAA baseball tournament
All games at Dudy Noble Field; double elimination format; game times in Central
Sunday, May 31
- Game 5: Louisiana vs. Cincinnati, 2 p.m., TBA
- Game 6: Mississippi State 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 pitcher in NCAA regional final is Ryan McPherson