Allen and James each hit home runs in middle game of series with Razorbacks
STARKVILLE – Nine runs over a three-inning span helped No. 1 Arkansas top No. 2 Mississippi State baseball, 10-5, in the second game of the series on Saturday (March 27) at Dudy Noble Field.
Mississippi State (17-6, 2-3 SEC) pushed out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning and the two teams exchanged runs in the third inning, before Arkansas (18-3, 4-1 SEC) scored nine runs between the fifth and seventh innings to grab control. State plated a single run in the fifth and Arkansas added one in the ninth to account for the final 11-5 margin.
Tanner Allen led the offense with two hits, a pair of RBIs and two runs scored. The junior hit his third home run of the season and produced his 28th career multi-RBI game. Brad Cumbest chipped in a pair of hits off the bench, while Kamren James added his fifth home run of the season in the third inning.
Rowdey Jordan was on base three times in the contest with a double and two walks and scored one run. Luke Hancock drove in one RBI with a first-inning base hit to move his reached base streak 12 games. Logan Tanner rounded out the offense with one RBI on a double.
Starting pitcher Will Bednar didn’t factor into the decision but fanned a career-high 10 batters in five innings of work. He allowed five runs – four earned – on six hits and walked just one batter. His 10 strikeouts surpassed his 8-strikeout effort in a start against Quinnipiac on March 7, 2020. Brandon Smith (2-1) took the loss with five runs allowed on four hits in one inning of work.
After Arkansas starting pitcher Zebulon Vermillion allowed four runs in 3 1/3 innings of work, the Arkansas bullpen gave up just one run the rest of the way. Caden Monke (3-0) picked up the win with two-thirds of an inning pitched and two strikeouts. Kevin Kopps (2) went the final four innings scoreless and struck out seven to earn the save.
The Razorbacks hit four more home runs on Saturday, with Christian Franklin’s three-run home run capping a four-run fifth inning. Cullen Smith’s solo home run to lead off the sixth inning gave the Razorbacks the lead for good.
Quotable
Head coach Chris Lemonis
On how important the series finale will be
CL: We talked that even though it’s early in the season, tomorrow is probably the biggest day of the year for us to this point. We need to see how we respond. I told them we’re a really good team, but we have to play better. We haven’t played well the last two days … If you want to beat a good team like Arkansas, their good players are playing well and that’s really what it comes down to. We haven’t played great in a lot of spots. We have to have a better effort tomorrow. We have to come out and get the one game. That’s all we can play for tomorrow … We have to be ready to go.
Scoring Recap
Bottom First
With one out, Rowdey Jordan doubled and came around to score on a Tanner Allen base hit up the middle. After Arkansas starting pitcher Zebulon Vermillion got a strikeout for the second out, back-to-back RBI hits from Luke Hancock and Logan Tanner made it a three-run game.
Mississippi State 3, Arkansas 0
Top Third
Jalen Battles led off the inning with a base hit and came in to score when a two-out error allowed Matt Goodheart to reach.
Mississippi State 3, Arkansas 1
Bottom Third
Kamren James hit his fifth home run of the season 433 feet into left-center field.
Mississippi State 4, Arkansas 1
Top Fifth
A solo home run from Braydon Webb and a three run blast with two outs by Christian Franklin gave the Razorbacks its first lead of the game.
Arkansas 5, Mississippi State 4
Bottom Fifth
A solo home run from Tanner Allen tied the game at five.
Mississippi State 5, Arkansas 5
Top Sixth
A leadoff home run by Cullen Smith pushed Arkansas back in front against reliever Brandon Smith. After Smith retired the next two batters, a walk and a two-run home run from Goodheart pushed the Razorback lead to three runs.
Arkansas 8, Mississippi State 5
Top Seventh
Brady Slavens singled before Franklin doubled down the left field line. Casey Optiz walked to load the bases prior to the rain delay. Following the 74 minute delay, Smith flew out to score one and Battles brought another around on a fielder’s choice.
Arkansas 10, Mississippi State 5
Top Ninth
A walk for Smith began the inning before he scored on Robert Moore’s single.
Arkansas 11, Mississippi State 5
Up Next
The series finale between Mississippi State and Arkansas will begin at 2 p.m. and air on the SEC Network with Tom Hart and Kyle Peterson on the call.