STARKVILLE, Miss. — The Mississippi State Bulldogs relied on a clutch performance off the bench from Vytas Valincius and a sturdy collective effort from the bullpen to defeat the Memphis Tigers 6-2 on April 21, 2026, at Dudy Noble Field.
Memphis struck first in the top of the first inning when designated hitter James Smith IV delivered an RBI single to center field, bringing home shortstop Javon Hernandez. The Bulldogs responded and took the lead in the bottom of the fourth inning. Right fielder Jacob Parker hit an RBI single to center field to score first baseman Reed Stallman, and shortly after, shortstop Ryder Woodson grounded out to third base, allowing left fielder Blake Bevis to score an unearned run to make it 2-1.
The Tigers tied the game at 2-2 in the top of the fifth inning when Hernandez launched a solo home run to left field. Mississippi State reclaimed the lead in the bottom of the sixth inning when Vytas Valincius pinch-hit for Parker and lined an RBI single to right field, scoring Bevis. The Bulldogs put the game out of reach in the bottom of the eighth inning when Valincius crushed a three-run home run to left field, scoring Stallman and pinch runner Gatlin Sanders (unearned) to finalize the score at 6-2.
Mississippi State’s offense was sparked by Vytas Valincius, who entered the game in the sixth inning and finished a perfect 2-for-2 with a home run and four RBIs. His go-ahead RBI single in the bottom of the sixth inning served as the game-winning hit. Blake Bevis was a catalyst in the lineup, finishing 3-for-4 with two doubles and two runs scored. Second baseman Gehrig Frei went 1-for-5 with a double, while Jacob Parker contributed an RBI single before being substituted.
For Memphis, Javon Hernandez led the way, going 2-for-5 with a solo home run, a double, two runs scored, and an RBI. Left fielder Jack Pitts went 2-for-3, and right fielder Marcus Smith finished 2-for-4. James Smith IV went 1-for-5 with an early RBI.
Mississippi State utilized six pitchers in the victory. Starter Tyler Pitzer pitched 1.1 innings, allowing one earned run on five hits with one strikeout. The bullpen held strong the rest of the way. Jack Gleason (1.2 IP, 4 K), Jack Bauer (2.0 IP, 1 ER, 1 K), and Maddox Miller (2.0 IP, 4 K) bridged the gap to the late innings. Dane Burns pitched 1.1 scoreless innings with two strikeouts, and Maddox Webb recorded the final two outs of the game to seal the win. The Bulldogs’ pitching staff combined for 13 strikeouts.
Memphis starter Seth Impson pitched 2.0 scoreless innings, allowing one hit and striking out one. Reliever Charlie Smith threw 3.0 innings, allowing one earned run, before Issac Lucas took over. Lucas surrendered the go-ahead run in the sixth inning to take the loss. Relievers Bayden Sanders and McCracken finished the game for the Tigers, with Nolan McCracken allowing the three-run homer in the eighth.
- Winning Pitcher: Maddox Miller (3-2)
- Losing Pitcher: Issac Lucas (0-2)
- Save: Maddox Webb (2)
The game was played under partly cloudy skies with a temperature of 76 degrees and a south-southwest wind at 5 mph. The first pitch was delivered at 6:02 p.m., and the contest lasted 2 hours and 48 minutes. The announced attendance at Dudy Noble Field was 8,772. The umpiring crew consisted of C.J. Burdette (Home Plate), Dustin Ragsdale (First Base), Jeff Head (Second Base), and Danny Cricks (Third Base).
With the outcome of the game, Mississippi State improves their overall record to 31-10. The Memphis Tigers fall to an overall record of 15-24.
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