Diamond Hogs rally in eighth to win opener

Clark Eagan of Arkansas celebrates after scoring the go-ahead run against Mississippi State during the eighth inning Friday, April 24, 2015, at Baum Stadium in Fayetteville.
Clark Eagan of Arkansas celebrates after scoring the go-ahead run against Mississippi State during the eighth inning Friday, April 24, 2015, at Baum Stadium in Fayetteville.

— In a game with four lead changes, No. 25 Arkansas grabbed momentum last Friday night at Baum Stadium.

The Razorbacks scored two runs with two outs in the bottom of the eighth inning, rallying to beat Mississippi State 7-6. Arkansas will go for its fifth consecutive series win Saturday at 6:05 p.m.

Game Sketch

Line Score: Arkansas 7-9-0; Mississippi State 6-15-1

Records: Arkansas 25-17, 10-9 SEC; Mississippi State 22-20, 6-13 SEC

WP: Zach Jackson (4-0)

LP: Trevor Fitts (2-3)

Turning Point: The Razorbacks had back-to-back singles with two outs in the eighth inning to take the lead.

Notable: Arkansas has won 10 of its last 12 games.

Attendance: 3,927

After Brett McAfee reached with a leadoff walk in the eighth, Clark Eagan hit an RBI single to tie the game and Joe Serrano followed with an RBI single to give the Razorbacks the lead.

Mississippi State put a runner on base with two outs in the top of the ninth inning, but Zach Jackson struck out Jake Vickerson to end the game. The Bulldogs out-hit the Razorbacks 15-9, but stranded 13 runners.

Arkansas (25-17, 10-9 SEC) scored four runs in the bottom of the third inning to take the lead after Mississippi State took a 1-0 lead in the first inning. Tucker Pennell scored on a throwing error and Serrano scored on a wild pitch to give the Razorbacks a 2-1 lead. Bobby Wernes followed with a two-run double.

Eagan added a solo home run in the bottom of the fourth to extend the Razorbacks' lead to 5-1, but Mississippi State battled back.

Wes Rea had a two-run single to pull the Bulldogs within 5-4 in the sixth inning and had a two-run home run to give Mississippi State the lead with two outs in the top of the eighth.

Rea finished the game 5-for-5 at the plate with 5 RBIs.

Jackson earned the win on the mound for the Razorbacks after striking seven batters in 3 2/3 innings. Arkansas starter Trey Killian had a no-decision after allowing four runs on nine hits.

Andrew Benintendi went 3-for-4 for the Razorbacks. He reached base in his first four at-bats Friday, extending his on-base streak to 13 straight plate appearances before an eighth inning groundout.

Arkansas has won 10 of its last 12 games overall and nine of its last 13 conference games. The Razorbacks have won the opener in five of their last six series.

Mississippi State (22-20, 6-13 SEC) has lost eight of its last nine games, including five straight.

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