State Rallies In Ninth To Down Hogs 6-5, Take Weekend Series

Friday, May 16

Starkville

6:30 p.m.

Mississippi State

23-32, 0

Arkansas

32-22, 0

Arkansas

Mississippi State

State Rallies In Ninth To Down Hogs 6-5, Take Weekend Series

May 16, 2008 | Baseball

Box Score

By: hailstate.com

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STARKVILLE, Miss. - Russ Sneed's RBI-single capped a wild ninth inning as Mississippi State defeated Arkansas 6-5 in college baseball action Friday night at Dudy Noble Field.

The teams were tied 2-2 entering the ninth inning. The Razorbacks scored three runs in their half of the at-bat before the Bulldogs rallied with four runs in the home half of the ninth to clinch the Southeastern Conference series.

MSU has now won eight of its last nine series against Arkansas. The Bulldogs also clinched a series win in the final series for 29-year head coaching veteran Ron Polk. Polk will coach his final game in Saturday's 3 p.m. series finale.

The Bulldogs improved to 23-32 overall and 9-20 in conference play, while the Razorbacks fell to 32-22 and 13-15. Arkansas slipped back into ninth place in the overall conference standings. The Razorbacks must win and have either South Carolina or Ole Miss lose on Saturday to qualify for the conference tournament, which begins Wednesday in Hoover, Ala.

MSU rallied with four runs in the home half of the ninth inning. Ryan Duffy began the inning with a single to left field. Jet Butler drew a walk and Jeff Flagg followed with a hot shot to left field to load the bases.

The Razorbacks then lifted relief pitcher Stephen Richards for Mike Bolsinger (4-1).

Ryan Powers greeted Bolsinger with an infield dribbler for an RBI-single. Grant Hogue followed with another infield hit forcing in another run. Bolsinger walked Nick Hardy to force in pinch-runner Mark Goforth with the game-tying run. After a fielder's choice resulted in an out at the plate, Sneed slapped an 0-1 single to deep right center field for the game-winning score.

The contest started out as a pitcher's duel between UA starter Cliff Spingston and MSU starter John Lalor. Lalor, in his final appearance at Dudy Noble Field, worked a career-long seven innings, allowing seven hits and two runs (both earned), with three walks and a career-high 12 strikeouts. Springston lasted seven-plus innings (facing one batter in the eighth inning), allowing four hits and two runs (both earned), with one walk and three strikeouts.

Arkansas scored first in the fourth inning, while MSU battled back to tie in the fifth inning.

The Razorbacks grabbed a 2-1 lead in the seventh inning when Casey Coon connected for a sacrifice fly. The Razorbacks actually had the bases loaded and nobody out but only plated that one score off a tiring Lalor.

MSU tied the contest in the eighth inning. Ryan Powers began the inning with a single. Nick Hardy tripled to right center field, bringing Powers accross the plate.

In the ninth innning, Arkansas grabbed its 5-2 lead with a two-run single by Coon and follow-up RBI-double by Brett Eibner.

MSU finished with 10 hits. Powers led the MSU attack with three hits, while Hogue and Duffy each had multiple hits.

Arkansas finished with nine hits. Logan Forsythe, Eibner and Tim Smalling each had multiple hits for the Razorbacks.

Andy Wilson (3-0) recorded the final two outs to pick up the victory. Chad Crosswhite and Greg Houston had followed Lalor to the mound for MSU.

More than 80 former MSU Diamond Dawg baseball players are expected for pre-game ceremonies Saturday prior to Polk's final game with the Maroon and White. The game will be televised regionally by Fox Sports Net South and will also be broadcast on XM Satellite Radio (Channel 199), as well as statewide on the Bulldog Sports Network.