GAME NOTES--SAMFORD VS. MISSISSIPPI STATE (PDF)

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Samford baseball team will play host to the 17th-ranked Mississippi State Bulldogs Tuesday at 6 p.m. at Joe Lee Griffin Field. The game can be seen live on ESPN+.
 
Samford and Mississippi State have met 52 previous times, with MSU holding a 41-11 series lead. Last season the teams met in Starkville, Miss., with MSU winning, 6-1. Samford's last win in the series came in 2022 when Samford earned an 8-6 win at the Hoover Met. The programs have also met four times in NCAA Regional games, with those contests tied at 2-2.
 
Samford is scheduled to start right-handed pitcher Ryan Vermillion on the mound Tuesday evening. Vermillion enters the game with a record of 1-0 and an ERA of 5.40. The appearance will mark the first start of his college career.
 
Samford comes into the weekend with a record of 17-17 overall and 5-4 in SoCon play. The Bulldogs swept three games from VMI over the weekend. Samford won the games by scores of 10-4, 8-3 and 5-3.
 
Samford has been led at the plate so far this season by Jake Souders, hitting .405 (53-of-131) with nine home runs and 30 RBI. Luke Boykin leads the team in home run with 10 and in RBI with 34. Gus Gandy is hitting .322 (38-of-118) with six doubles, three home runs and 13 RBI. Cade Carr is hitting .311 (38-of-122), while Trey Higgins is hitting .308 (32-of-104).
 
Mississippi State enters the week with a record of 26-10 overall and 7-8 in the SEC. The Bulldogs dropped three games to Tennessee over the weekend, falling by scores of 6-5, 6-2 and 7-2.
 
Mississippi State has been led at the plate so far this season by Bryce Chance, batting .376 (41-of-109) with 13 doubles and 19 RBI. Ace Reese leads the team in home runs with 10 and in RBI with 42.
 
Tuesday night's game is the seventh of eight games on Samford's 2026 schedule against teams from the Southeastern Conference. So far this season, the Bulldogs have hosted Alabama, played at Alabama, played a three-game series at Georgia and a single game at Auburn. Following Tuesday night's game against Mississippi State, Samford will host Auburn on April 21 at the Hoover Metropolitan Stadium.
 
The game can be seen live on ESPN+ and live stats will be available as well. For links to follow all of Samford's games this season, click on the following link: 2026 SCHEDULE.
 
FOLLOW THE BULLDOGS
For the latest news and information on Samford baseball, visit the official website for Samford Athletics at SamfordSports.com. Fans can also follow the Bulldogs on social media at /SamfordBaseball (Facebook), @SamfordBaseball (Instagram) and @SamfordBaseball (Twitter).