HOOVER, Ala. (Interstat) — The 2026 Southeastern Conference Baseball Championship opens Wednesday afternoon with a stark contrast in fortunes: seed Mississippi State (39-16) meets seed Missouri (23-30) at the Hoover Met.

The Bulldogs, despite dropping two of three at Texas A&M to close the regular season, enter as the league’s hottest team over the long haul, winning nine of their last 12 series. Missouri stumbled to a 6-12 conference mark but arrives on a high note after upsetting Mississippi 10-8 on Tuesday in the tournament’s play-in round, earning a rematch with the Bulldogs.

Players to watch

Eli Skidmore, Missouri – The right-handed reliever has been an erratic but effective weapon. In Tuesday’s win over the Rebels, he tossed 2 2/3 scoreless innings, striking out five without allowing a hit. Over his previous seven outings, Skidmore posted a 5.79 ERA, but he has flashed dominance: 1 1/3 hitless frames vs. Texas on May 14, and a scoreless inning against Vanderbilt on May 10. His command remains a question – he allowed four earned runs in one inning at Georgia on May 3 – but his ability to miss bats (10 Ks in his last 6 2/3 IP) makes him a reliable high-leverage option.

Jacob Parker, Mississippi State – The Bulldogs’ right fielder enters the postseason swinging a hot bat. In his last four games he has three home runs and eight RBIs, including a 2-for-4, homer, two-RBI performance in Saturday’s 7-6 loss at Texas A&M. Over his past six games, Parker is batting .308 (8-for-26) with four homers and 10 RBIs. He struggled in a three-game sweep at Auburn (0-for-9), but bounced back with a three-hit, five-RBI game against Nicholls State on May 5.

Recent results

Missouri (23-30) comes off Tuesday’s 10-8 win, paced by Skidmore’s relief gem, center fielder Kaden Peer (1-for-4, HR, 4 RBIs) and shortstop Kam Durnin (2-for-3, HR, 2 RBIs). The Tigers have lost six of their last nine, including a sweep at Texas (May 14-16) and a 4-14 loss at Georgia on May 3.

Mississippi State last played May 16, a 7-6 loss at Texas A&M despite Parker’s homer and two RBIs. The Bulldogs took the series opener 18-11 on May 14. They finished the regular season with a 10-3 win over Auburn on May 7 and a 21-6 demolition of Nicholls State on May 5, but also lost two of three to Texas (May 1-3).

Matchup outlook

Mississippi State holds a clear advantage in overall record and power numbers. The Bulldogs rank among the SEC leaders in home runs, slugging percentage and runs per game. Missouri’s strength lies in its bullpen, with Skidmore anchoring a unit that held Vanderbilt to one run in a 4-1 win on May 10.

First pitch is set for 5 p.m. CDT. The winner advances to face the tournament’s top seed later in the week.