STARKVILLE, Miss. – Too late to qualify for the eight-team SEC Tournament but perhaps in time to rescue NCAA Regional at-large consideration, Arkansas avoided being overcome a third straight time by last-place Mississippi State at MSU’s Dudy Noble Field.
Having lost 3-0 and 5-2 leads, the 5-2 lead in the ninth, of 6-5 losses to Mississippi State Thursday night and Friday night, the Razorbacks saw a 9-2 lead dissipate to a 10-9 deficit Saturday afternoon then regrouped for a 15-10 victory behind freshman reliever James Mahler.
Arkansas netted 6 runs the final three innings while Mahler threw blanks coming on after the Bulldogs took a 10-9 lead with one out and the bases loaded in the sixth. He whiffed Mark Goforth and Grant Hogue to end the 4-run sixth and did not allow a runner until MSU loaded the bases in the ninth. [read more]
