Valincius gets Mississippi State’s Saturday start and a rematch with Virginia Tech

The teaching workers has been holding their playing cards shut within the lead-up to the Amergy Bank Baseball Series so far as how Mississippi State will pitch it. But because the Diamond Dogs had been on the point of tackle Arizona State to start the weekend, phrase obtained out about day-two plans.

lefthander Thomas Valincius was instructed he’ll take the ball for Saturday’s afternoon matchup with Virginia Tech. coach Brian O’Connor confirmed this following the primary recreation to the Genespage.com crew masking the occasion all weekend.

On Thursday the State workers would solely announce righthander Ryan McPherson as game-one starter, leaving a lot of guessing how the opposite solutions could be assigned. By the time that reply had begun the choice was made.

Going with sophomore McPherson was the fitting selection, as he labored 7.0 full innings beginning Mississippi State in direction of an 8-4 win over Arizona State.

Throwing Valincius (2-0, 0.00 period) within the second recreation of a weekend is nothing new after all. The Virginia switch has taken second flip in each earlier sequence, each on the house area. Though, he had been booked to throw third on opening weekend earlier than climate compelled an early twinbill.

So Valincius took the primary half of that set and made it each a high quality start and a private success. He labored 5.1 innings, scoreless innings at that, and earned his first resolution as a Bulldog. A weekend later he obtained the Saturday shot in opposition to Hofstra and turned in 6.0 full innings, once more with out permitting a run for the second so-far win.

In his 11.1 innings Valincius has been touched for 9 base hits, however he has solely walked three whereas placing out 13. Only one baserunner has gotten so far as the second sack. coach Justin Parker you’ve gotten stored the pitch rely cheap with 68 and 89 tosses.

But then Valincius is just not in want of as a lot safety as many moundsmen this time of 12 months. The sophomore southpaw obtained loads of innings and pitches as a freshman at Virginia final 12 months, beginning 12 of his 13 appearances. Valincius got here out of the rookie 12 months with 70 strikeouts in 64.2 innings.

And lining this lefty up in opposition to Virginia Tech is a good contact for each Valincius and his head coach. Last 12 months, as Atlantic Coast Conference opponents in addition to in-state rivals, the Virginia pitcher labored a win in opposition to the Hokies. Valincius threw 6.2 innings within the 3-1 ultimate with six strikeouts to attain the victory. Now he has a rematch whereas carrying a completely different uniform from a completely different league.

With Valincius set for Saturday, the query turns into who will O’Connor and Parker choose for Sunday’s top-five showdown with UCLA? The earlier two weekends have seen lefthander Charlie Foster (0-0, 5.40) get the ball. He has labored simply 3.0, then 2.0 innings with 10 strikeouts and three walks.

There is the potential for a change although. With righthander Duke Stone (2-0, 2.70) not having to work Friday’s recreation, he might discover himself in a weekend beginning position. Stone has opened one mid-week recreation already this 12 months, going 4.0 innings in opposition to troy with 48. His weekend work, twice, has been in aid and typically first Dog known as out of the bullpen at that.

So when Stone did not work this previous Tuesday it was a clue he was being saved for larger duties in Texas. Stone has thrown in three video games with 10.0 innings and a staff-best 16 strikeouts going into this weekend.