Mississippi State’s ace right-hander Duke Stone will take the mound for the Bulldogs’ first game of the NCAA Tournament Starkville Regional, facing off against Lipscomb on May 29 at 1 p.m. The matchup will be streamed on ESPN+ and marks a key moment for the team’s national seed No. 14 campaign.
Regional Schedule Overview
The Starkville Regional runs from May 29 through June 1 in a double‑elimination format. Game 1 pits Mississippi State against Lipscomb at 1 p.m., while Game 2 sees Cincinnati take on Louisiana at 6 p.m., both broadcasts on ESPN+. The winners and losers of those contests will meet in subsequent games that determine the path to the super‑regional.
Stone’s Recent Form
Stone entered the tournament after a strong stretch in which he tossed four hitless innings against Lipscomb on March 7, striking out six without issuing a walk. This season he holds a 5.69 ERA over 68 innings across 14 starts, with 92 strikeouts and 26 walks, giving the Bulldogs a reliable arm heading into the opening round.