Look, there’s nothing quite like a Saturday at Dudy Noble Field when the grill smoke from the Left Field Lounge starts drifting over the diamond and the charcoal is just hitting that perfect temperature. If you weren’t at the ballpark today, you missed a masterclass in how a championship-caliber program handles its business. Winning a doubleheader isn’t just about endurance; it’s about a strategic “kill shot.” By taking both ends of the twin bill today (6-1 and 7-5), the Diamond Dawgs didn’t just win a series—they established a culture of dominance. Starting the season 3-0 and sweeping a Saturday allows the staff to breathe, and saves the Sunday arms.
Valincius: A Debut for the Ages
There is a unique kind of pressure that comes with a collegiate debut in front of the Starkville faithful, but Tomas Valincius looked like he was pitching a backyard game in Lockport. The Bulldogs needed a “stopper” in the first leg of the doubleheader to keep the bullpen fresh for the nightcap. Valincius, the sophomore southpaw by way of Virginia, was the definition of clinical.
He didn’t just dismantle the Pride; he threw a high-efficiency gem, pounding the zone with 68 pitches—44 of them for strikes. In 5.1 innings, he surrendered zero runs and only four hits while racking up six strikeouts. His ability to change eye levels and pitch to contact kept the Hofstra bats off-balance and allowed the Bulldog defense to stay sharp. We saw that “twin killer” defense in the 4th inning when Reed Stallman, Ryder Woodson, and Gatlin Sanders turned a crucial double play to bail the staff out of a potential jam.
When Valincius handed over the ball, 6’7″ senior Brendan Sweeney stepped in and put on a long-relief masterclass. Sweeney’s 3.2 innings of work provided the bridge every coach dreams of, racking up 5 strikeouts and allowing just a single run on a late homer. Offensively, the Bulldogs showcased an aggressive identity on the base paths with James Nunnallee and Bryce Chance both swiping bags. At the plate, Ace Reese set the tone with two authoritative doubles, while the supporting cast of Reed Stallman and Gehrig Frei (pinch-hitting in the 8th) kept the line moving to secure a comfortable Game 2 victory.
Game 3: Responding to the Punch
If the afternoon was a display of precision, Game 3 was a total gut-check. Adversity arrived early in the form of Hofstra’s CJ Griggs, who launched a three-run blast in the 1st inning off Charlie Foster. Foster was “effectively wild” in his 3.0 innings, striking out five, but that one mistake to Griggs hushed the crowd and gave the Pride a dangerous jolt of confidence.
The Bulldogs didn’t blink. The turning point of the entire day came in the bottom of the 2nd. With two on and two out, Ace Reese—all 6’4″ and 220 pounds of him—leveled a pitch into the night sky over right-center. That three-run bomb didn’t just flip the lead; it sucked the oxygen right out of the Hofstra dugout. From there, the Bulldogs leaned on a resilient bullpen to navigate a high-stakes finale.
The Gatekeepers
| Pitcher | Effort | Pitches/Strikes | Impact |
| Jack Gleason (W) | 1.1 IP, 2 K | 27/16 | Quelled the mid-game threat and stabilized the rhythm. |
| William Kirk | 2.0 IP, 1 H | 22/18 | The “Bridge.” High-efficiency work to keep the Pride off-balance. |
| Maddox Webb (S) | 1.0 IP, 3 K | 24/15 | Pure power. Shut the door by striking out the side in the 9th. |
The tactical brilliance of Gleason and Kirk cannot be overstated. They neutralized the Hofstra momentum, allowing Maddox Webb to come in and exert total dominance. Webb was “pure filth” in the 9th, facing the heart of the order and sitting down the final three batters on strikes to clinch the sweep.
The “Ace” in the Hole: The Reese Report
It is rare to see a player anchor a lineup quite like Ace Reese did today. The Canton, Texas junior put up a stat line that looks like a video game: 4-for-9 across the doubleheader with three doubles and a massive 3-run home run. While some might have miscounted his production, the ground truth is a massive 4-RBI day that shifted the gravity of the entire series.
Reese is a nightmare for opposing scouts. He possesses a “plus power” profile but couples it with a short, compact swing that allows him to drive the ball gap-to-gap. His three doubles show he isn’t just selling out for the long ball; he’s a professional hitter who can exploit a pitcher’s mistakes regardless of the count. When you have a 6’4″ monster in the middle of your order who can hit for both average and elite power, it changes the way every other hitter in the lineup gets pitched.
Pitching Depth & The Road Ahead
The takeaway for the fans leaving The Dude today is simple: this team has layers. We saw a starting rotation that can dominate, a lineup that can take a punch, and a bullpen that functions like a well-oiled machine.
The Saturday Sweep Summary:
- Freshman/Sophomore Impact: Tomas Valincius and Charlie Foster proved they are ready for the big stage, showing poise beyond their years.
- The “Webb” of Security: Having a high-velocity closer like Maddox Webb gives this team a massive psychological advantage. When the 9th inning starts, the game is effectively over.
- The 3-0 Foundation: Sweeping the first three games of the season provides the cushion and confidence needed to experiment with mid-week rotations without the pressure of a losing record hanging over the clubhouse.
