Starkville Regional Final Preview
The 2026 NCAA Baseball Championship rolls into its Starkville Regional final on Saturday night, pitting the Mississippi State Bulldogs against the Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns. The showdown, scheduled for an 8 p.m. ET start and streamed live on ESPN+, will determine which team advances to the Super Regional round.
Mississippi State entered the final atop the winner’s bracket after a decisive victory that saw the Ragin' Cajuns knock out Cincinnati, while Louisiana’s own run to the championship game was fueled by a gritty performance against the Bearcats.
Offensive Highlights
The Bulldogs posted a 9‑3 final tally, collecting eight hits and committing just one error. Leading the offense, Gehrig Frei compiled three hits and drove in two runs, while Ace Reese added a single hit and two RBIs. Starter Ryan McPherson delivered five solid innings, surrendering five hits and two runs without walking a batter.
Defensive Showdown
Louisiana managed three runs on seven hits with two errors. Blaze Rodriguez recorded a single hit, and the duo of Colt Brown and Noah Lewis each contributed an RBI. Reliever Sawyer Pruitt struggled in 1.1 innings, allowing three runs before the Bulldogs pulled away.
With the win, Mississippi State now eyes a coveted spot in the Super Regional, a stage that could propel them deeper into the national tournament. The Bulldogs’ pitching staff, anchored by McPherson’s early work, will look to maintain the momentum as they prepare for the next round.