The Mississippi State Baseball team struggled early in the weekend series against the Arkansas Razorbacks. The Razorbacks won the series 2-1, claiming their fifth straight conference series win.
On Friday, the Bulldogs and the No. 25 Razorbacks battled to the end. Wes Rea hit a two-run homerun in the eighth inning, but it was not enough to put the Bulldogs on top. Arkansas took the victory in the opening game of the weekend series 7-6. “Our kids really gave a good effort tonight,” MSU head coach John Cohen said. “We just don’t close the deal out. It’s our fault as a coaching staff. Our kids were in a position and we just didn’t finish it out. We have a bunch of kids who are trying as hard as they can, maybe too hard.”
The Bulldogs continued the weekend series Saturday night.  After a tight contest, the Razorbacks pulled away in the fourth inning. Arkansas took the win 6-1 in the second game at Baum Stadium. “Tonight, we were not good in any phase of the game,” Cohen said.
In the last contest of the weekend, the Bulldogs came out on fire. Austin Sexton allowed five hits and one run in his six innings, with three strikeouts and one walk. Zac Houston closed out the game for the Bulldogs with three strike outs and one walk in his 1.2 innings of work, claiming his first career save. “We pitched really well today,” Cohen said. “Austin did a great job of forcing things. We used a good combination of people. Zac was really good there at the end. He lived with his fastball. He beat right-handed hitters to the spot. He is a sophomore and still learning. I am really proud of him today.”
MSU will face Ole Miss Tuesday at 6:30 in Pearl, Mississippi. LSU travels to Dudy Noble field for a three game series starting Thursday.