Forsythe collects a pair of hits, plates one RBI versus Razorbacks in series opener
STARKVILLE – A trio of early home runs for No. 1 Arkansas held up as the No. 2 Mississippi State baseball program dropped the series opener, 8-2, on Friday (March 26) evening at Dudy Noble Field.
The Razorbacks scored its first four runs on solo home runs and staked out to a 5-0 lead after four. State used a Rowdey Jordan RBI single in the fifth to get on the board, before the Razorbacks struck for two in the seventh and one in the ninth. Lane Forsythe drove in the second MSU run in the ninth inning.
Forsythe posted his fifth multi-hit game of the season with a pair of singles. The freshman also scored once and drove in one RBI. Jordan was the only other Diamond Dawg to reach base twice – a single and a walk – to go along with his one RBI. Luke Hancock moved his reached base streak to 11 games with a hit-by-pitch.
Starting pitcher Christian MacLeod (2-2) took the loss with five runs allowed on six hits in 3 2/3 innings of work. The left-hander walked two and struck out four. Stone Simmons allowed two runs in 2 2/3 innings of relief and Dylan Carmouche surrendered one unearned run in the ninth.
Arkansas starting pitcher Patrick Wicklander (1-0) threw five innings and allowed one run on two hits in his second start of the season. The Razorbacks hit four home runs – all solo – on the night, led by a pair from Christian Franklin. Matt Goodheart and Brady Slavens also posted multi-RBI games in the series opener.
Quotable
Head coach Chris Lemonis
On what he told his team following the game
CL: Well, we talked a little bit after the game about being the aggressor. We have to be more aggressive. We have to go after it. I thought we were setback all night. The other piece is when you play in this league, you get to play another game in less than 24 hours. We have to have short-term memory, be able to throw it away, and come back and be better tomorrow. Just because the sun comes up tomorrow doesn’t mean we are going to be better. We have to come out and have a better approach tomorrow.
Scoring Recap
Top First
Matt Goodheart and Cayden Wallace hit back-to-back solo home runs with one out to begin the scoring for the game. Christian Franklin followed that lead and hit a solo homerun to right field with two outs.
Arkansas 3, Mississippi State 0
Top Fourth
Franklin hit his second home run of the game to start the inning down the left field line. Cullen Smith then walked before advancing to second on Casey Opitz’s single to third base. Robert Moore’s sacrifice fly scored Smith.
Arkansas 5, Mississippi State 0
Bottom Fifth
Lane Forsythe singled to right field and advanced to second on a groundout before he scored on Rowdey Jordan’s single up the middle.
Arkansas 5, Mississippi State 1
Top Seventh
Jalen Battles singled to shortstop and advanced on a wild pitch before Braydon Webb walked with one out. Goodheart singled up the middle to score one before a Brady Slavens single brought another run in.
Arkansas 7, Mississippi State 1
Top Ninth
Webb reached on an error, stole second and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Slavens single to right field brought Webb around.
Arkansas 8, Mississippi State 1
Bottom Ninth
Luke Hancock singled up the middle and advanced to second on a ground out before Forsythe’s second hit of the night plated one to cap the scoring.
Arkansas 8, Mississippi State 2
Up Next
Mississippi State and Arkansas take to the field for a 2 p.m. first pitch on Saturday, March 27. Prior to the game, Mississippi State will induct its second class into the Ron Polk Ring of Honor, with Eric DuBose, Paul E. Gregory and Bobby Thigpen honored in a ceremony starting at 11 a.m.
Gates will open at 10:30 for the general public to view the ceremony. A limited number of fans will be allowed in on a first-come, first-served basis at the right field entrance to Dudy Noble Field. No ticket is required for the ceremony and fans will be asked to clear the stadium prior to gates opening at 12:30 p.m. for those with game tickets for Saturday.