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Mississippi State beats Arkansas 4-3 in Game 2 of SEC Tournament

By Cole Patterson

May 6, 2017; Kansas City, MO, USA; A general view of a baseball on the field prior to a game between the Kansas City Royals and the Cleveland Indians at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Peter G. Aiken-USA TODAY Sports
May 6, 2017; Kansas City, MO, USA; A general view of a baseball on the field prior to a game between the Kansas City Royals and the Cleveland Indians at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Peter G. Aiken-USA TODAY Sports /
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Fifth-seeded Mississippi State defeats fourth-seeded Arkansas 4-3 in the Bulldogs’ second game in Hoover.

Mississippi State entered the SEC Tournament limping.

After dropping two games to Georgia on the road, the Bulldogs were swept on the final weekend of the old Dudy Noble to LSU.

But enough with the bad news.

Behind Brent Rooker’s bat, Mississippi State continues their push in Hoover.

Denver McQuary started on the bump, but the Bulldogs could not get anything going early. The Razorbacks quickly got out in front after a two-run shot in the first inning. Arkansas added another the next inning, as the Bulldogs’ bats continued to struggle.

Peyton Plumee came in for McQuary in the fifth and did a nice job limiting the Razorbacks. Plumlee threw four scoreless innings against one of the more explosive offenses in the conference. While the Bulldogs waited for their bats to come alive, Plumlee kept his team in the game.

In the sixth, State finally put a number on the scoreboard. Elijah MacNamee drove in Cody Brown on a RBI single to give the ‘Dawgs some life. Plumlee continued to hold Arkansas from adding to their lead.

After a scoreless seventh frame, Josh Lovelady drove in another run for the Bulldogs. Although they left two runners on base, it was clear Mississippi State finally had some momentum.

Finally, things broke right for the Bulldogs in the ninth.

Ryan Gridley led things off for the Bulldogs with a single. And then, Brent Rooker came to the plate.

After Arkansas went to the bullpen, the reigning SEC Player of the Year slammed the ball into right field — scoring Gridley from first to tie the game up at 3.

Rooker has been clutch all season long and continues to prove he is one of — if not the — best players in all of college baseball.

Jake Mangum beat out a throw at first and Hunter Stovall was hit by a pitch to load the bases for the Bulldogs in the top of the inning. Arkansas walked in Rooker for the go-ahead score.

Riley Self came in for the save to help give State the W.

The Dawgs are back at it tomorrow morning against top-seeded Florida at 11 on the SEC Network.

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