STARKVILLE, MS– No. 6 Arkansas (35-12, 16-7 SEC) dominated Mississippi State (24-22, 6-17 SEC) from start to finish, swatting three home runs and dismantling the Bulldogs, 14-2, in seven innings on Saturday night at Dudy Noble Field.
With the run-rule win, the Razorbacks clinched their fourth straight series win against Mississippi State as well as their second consecutive series win in Starkville for only the second time in program history. Arkansas had not won back-to-back road series against Mississippi State since 2010 and 2012 before doing so in 2021 and 2023.
Arkansas will look to secure its second consecutive series sweep in Starkville in tomorrow afternoon’s finale. The Hogs, 10-1 in their last 11 games against the Bulldogs, have won five straight games at Dudy Noble Field dating back to 2021.
The Razorbacks wasted no time taking control of Saturday night’s game, jumping out to a commanding 8-0 lead after four innings of play. Arkansas pounded Mississippi State starter Landon Gartman for four runs on three hits and four walks, knocking the right-hander out of the ballgame after only 1 2/3 innings.
Kendall Diggs and Ben McLaughlin each collected two-RBI singles in the top half of second as the Hogs opened an early 4-0 lead. Mississippi State’s bullpen fared no better against the Arkansas offense, allowing three more runs in the top of the third and an additional run in the fourth.
Peyton Holt was responsible for two of those four runs batted in, tallying an RBI single in the third before recording his second RBI single of the ballgame in the fourth inning.
Razorback starter Brady Tygart, meanwhile, did not need much help on the mound. Making his second start since returning from an early-season injury, the right-hander needed just 20 pitches to complete two scoreless innings.
Tygart, who earned the win, gave the ball to Will McEntire to close out the final five innings. The veteran right-hander struck out four over his five innings of two-run ball, earning a save – the second of his career – in the process.
Arkansas’ offense continued to mash with McEntire on the mound, scoring six more runs after Tygart departed the game. Brady Slavens hit his second home run in as many games in the top of the sixth before the Razorbacks punctuated their dominant night at the plate with a five-run seventh inning.
Diggs, who finished with a team-leading three hits and five RBI, blasted a two-run home run to right, putting Arkansas up, 11-2. Caleb Cali’s three-run home run later in the seventh extended the Hogs’ lead to 14-2.
First pitch in the series finale between the Razorbacks and Bulldogs is set for 1 p.m. Sunday, May 7, on SEC Network+.
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Note to Our Readers: The previous story was sourced directly and in its entirety from the University of Arkansas Office of Communications, Oliver Grigg.
