STARKVILLE — Mississippi State baseball enters its final series of the regular season with plenty to play for.

MSU (34-18, 15-12 SEC) welcomes Missouri (22-30, 8-19) to Dudy Noble Field for a three-game set that opens on Thursday. It's a crucial series for the Bulldogs as they look to climb the SEC standings before the conference tournament, but also an important one because of NCAA Tournament implications.

Mississippi State is on the fringe of hosting games during regional play. The top 16 teams, as picked by the selection committee, host the first stage of the NCAA Tournament. RPI is a metric considered by the committee when assembling the field of 64. Entering the final SEC series, Mississippi State sits at No. 18 in those rankings.

MORE: Watch Mississippi State baseball vs. Missouri with ESPN+ (subscribe now)

A chance to climb and collect SEC wins remains. The Tigers have struggled this season and likely won't be part of the postseason.

However, Missouri has been a thorn in MSU's side recently. In 2021, before Mississippi State won its national title, the Bulldogs lost a late-May series at home to the Tigers. The following season, MSU lost a series at Mizzou.

Game 1: Mississippi State 4, Missouri 3

It was a low-scoring series opener in Starkville with the teams getting five of the seven runs off home runs. Khal Stephen allowed three runs in six innings for his ninth quality start as a Bulldog. Behind him, Tyson Hardin and Tyler Davis shut down the Missouri offense.

Game 2: Mississippi State 8, Missouri 2

Behind another strong start from Jurrangelo Cijntje, Mississippi State secured its first series victory against Missouri since 2016. The sophomore ambidextrous pitcher struck out nine Tigers while allowing only two runs across seven innings. A home run from Hunter Hines accounted for the Bulldogs’ lone run across the first three innings. However, after Missouri tied the game at one in the fourth, the MSU offense came to life. The Bulldogs scored two in the fourth before adding four in the fifth – three of those runs coming off an Amani Larry home run. Larry added a solo shot to his stat line in the eighth.

Game 3: Missouri 4, Mississippi State 3

MSU failed to complete the sweep in a familiar fashion for the offense. The Bulldogs stranded 12 runners on base and scored only three runs despite collecting 11 hits. Mississippi State jumped ahead in the second with a two-run rally sparked by the bottom half of the lineup. After Mizzou tied it in the fourth, MSU jumped back in front two innings later on a Joe Powell home run. However, a two-run shot from Missouri’s Jackson Lovich in the seventh inning proved to be the crucial blow.

What channel is Mississippi State baseball vs. Missouri on today?

• Thursday: SEC Network+

• Friday: SEC Network+

• Saturday: SEC Network+

Mississippi State vs. Missouri start time

• May 16: 6 p.m.

• May 17: 3 p.m.

• May 18: 2:30 p.m.

Mississippi State vs. Missouri : Probable pitchers

• Thursday: RHP Khal Stephen (7-3, 3.16 ERA) vs. RHP Kaden Jacobi (1-0, 7.20 ERA)

• Friday: BHP Jurrangelo Cijntje (7-1, 3.57 ERA) vs. RHP Bryce Mayer (2-6, 6.57 ERA)

• Saturday: LHP Pico Kohn (1-0, 3.38 ERA) vs. LHP Ryan Magdic (1-3, 4.50 ERA)

Mississippi State baseball live score updates vs Missouri

Mississippi State baseball 2024 schedule

• May 16-18: vs. Missouri

• May 21-26: SEC tournament (Hoover, Ala.)

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This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Mississippi State baseball score updates vs. Missouri in SEC series