STARKVILLE, Miss. — Mississippi State Coach Chris Lemonis said Sunday’s series finale would be the Bulldogs’ most important game of the season.
Arkansas coach Dave Van Horn didn’t go that far. He knew the Razorbacks’ first win in Starkville since 2012 was big.
But a sweep? That might be something his squad would look back on come June as the catalyst to something much bigger.
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No. 2 Arkansas polished off a 3 for 3 weekend at Dudy Noble Field on Sunday afternoon, riding a five-run fourth inning to a 6-4 victory over No. 4 Mississippi State.
Matt Goodheart’s solo home run ignited the Razorback rally that was enough to overcome a short start from pitcher Lael Lockhart.
Goodheart’s fourth homer in as many games got the ball rolling for Arkansas (19-3, 5-1 SEC). Cayden Wallace followed Goodheart with a single into right and Mississippi State pitcher Jackson Fristoe walked Brady Slavens before a wild pitch allowed both men to advance.
And just when it looked like Fristoe might escape with the lone run coming across — he struck out Christian Franklin and Casey Opitz before getting ahead 1-2 on Jalen Battles — a sharply hit ball to third from Battles turned into an infield single and an error on Mississippi State third baseman Kamren James that brought home Wallace and Slavens to make it a 3-0 game.
Robert Moore then launched an RBI triple to the wall in right center and Jacob Nesbit singled in Moore three pitches later, stretching the Razorbacks’ advantage to 5-0.
A fielder’s choice and an RBI single from Brad Cumbest got the Bulldogs a pair of runs to pull to 5-2 in the bottom of the fourth, but Van Horn was quick with the hook on Lockhart after a couple of light days for the Arkansas bullpen.
Junior Ryan Costeiu entered and induced a strikeout and 5-3 groundout in quick succession to snuff out the Bulldogs’ biggest threat to that point.
The Razorbacks had a chance to strike again in the top of the sixth, putting men on first and third with one out. Lemonis then turned to star reliever Landon Sims, who walked in a run but struck out a pair to avoid what could’ve been much worse for Mississippi State.
Luke Hancock and Logan Tanner quickly cut the Bulldogs’ deficit to 6-4 with back-to-back solo shots to start the bottom of the sixth, bringing Van Horn back out for another change.
Caden Monke again answered the bell for the Arkansas skipper, getting a pair of groundouts sandwiched around a strikeout after a Josh Hatcher double to kill yet another MSU rally.
The Bulldogs had chances in both the eighth and ninth innings, including bringing the tying run to the plate with no outs in the final frame after Scotty Dubrule led things off with a single.
Rowdey Jordan grounded into a straightforward 4-6-3 double play and that all but put things away. Jaxon Wiggins finished the three-game sweep with two innings of shutout ball to earn the save.
For a second day in a row, Arkansas’ offense scuffled out the gates after blasting three solo homers in the first inning Friday night.
Fristoe settled in after he battled control issues in the opening frame, working full counts to three of four batters. Fristoe struck out Slavens with a man on second to end the Hogs’ lone early threat and piled up five strikeouts in the first three innings.
Mississippi State (17-7, 2-4) loaded the bases against Lockhart in the third inning, but Jordan flied out. Goodheart hit his home run on the first pitch of the next half inning.
EARLIER
Arkansas 6, Mississippi State 4 — FINAL
Rowdey Jordan hit into a double play after Scotty Dubrule singled to lead off the inning. Tanner Allen followed with a two-out single, but Kamren James flied out to left.
Arkansas has swept Mississippi State. It is the second time the Razorbacks have ever swept in Starkville, and the first time the Bulldogs have been swept at home since 2018.
The Razorbacks are 19-3 overall, 5-1 in the SEC. The Bulldogs are 17-7, 2-4.
We will have more soon at WholeHogSports.com.
Arkansas 6, Mississippi State 4 — Middle 9th Inning
Landon Sims carved through Matt Goodheart, Cayden Wallace and Brady Slavens in the top of the ninth. Goodheart and Slavens were his fourth and fifth strikeout victims, and Wallace flied out.
Jaxon Wiggins will face the top of the MSU order in the ninth.
Arkansas 6, Mississippi State 4 — End 8th Inning
Jaxon Wiggins worked around a leadoff walk to Luke Hancock and a one-out single by Josh Hatcher.
The key at-bat was by Brad Cumbest, who took two fastballs on the black away, and then looked at 0-2 fastball low in the zone.
Lane Forsythe flied out to end the inning.
Arkansas will send its 2-3-4 hitters to the plate in the ninth.
Arkansas 6, Mississippi State 4 — Middle 8th Inning
Arkansas stranded another runner in the eighth after Jacob Nesbit walked with two outs. Braydon Webb flied out to right field to end the inning.
The Razorbacks have stranded seven today.
Landon Sims has been effective for Mississippi State with 2 2/3 innings of relief. He has walked four, but hasn't allowed a run.
Arkansas 6, Mississippi State 4 — End 7th Inning
Rowdey Jordan reached on a fielding error by Arkansas second baseman Robert Moore. He was erased, though, when Tanner Allen grounded into a 6-3 double play turned by Jalen Battles.
Kamren James popped up to Moore to end the inning.
Zack Morris threw that inning for the Razorbacks. Jaxon Wiggins is warming up in the Razorbacks' bullpen.
Arkansas 6, Mississippi State 4 — Middle 7th Inning
Brady Slavens walked with one out, but that was all for the Razorbacks in the top of the seventh. Christian Franklin flied out and Casey Opitz hit into a fielder's choice to strand Slavens. He was Arkansas' sixth runner left on base today.
Arkansas 6, Mississippi State 4 — End 6th Inning
Caden Monke stopped the bleeding in the sixth inning. He gave up a single to Josh Hatcher on his first pitch, but followed with three straight outs.
Brad Cumbest grounded out to third base, Lane Forsythe struck out and Scotty Dubrule grounded out to shortstop.
The Bulldogs have scored two runs in each of the past two innings. It feels like Arkansas might need some more runs to hold MSU off.
Arkansas 6, Mississippi State 4 — Bottom 6th Inning
Luke Hancock homered on the first pitch he saw to lead off the bottom of the inning. Hancock was sitting on a high fastball from Ryan Costeiu.
Logan Tanner followed with a homer. Both were crushed, and Costeiu is leaving the game. Caden Monke will replace him.
Arkansas 6, Mississippi State 2 — Middle 6th Inning
Braydon Webb drew a bases-loaded walk with two outs to force home Casey Opitz, who doubled with one out in the inning.
Opitz was the first of three Arkansas hitters to reach with one out. Jalen Battles singled and Robert Moore walked.
Landon Sims got out of the jam by striking out Matt Goodheart. Sims also struck out Jacob Nesbit in the inning.
Sims, a right hander, is an impressive-looking pitcher. His fastball runs to 98 mph and he has 34 strikeouts in 14 1/3 innings.
Arkansas 5, Mississippi State 2 — End 5th Inning
Ryan Costeiu looked strong in the fifth inning. He struck out Rowdey Jordan and Kamren James, and he fielded his position well on Tanner Allen's ball hit back to the mound.
Arkansas 5, Mississippi State 2 — Middle 5th Inning
Mississippi State reliever Houston Harding worked a quick fifth inning. He struck out Matt Goodheart, got Cayden Wallace to line out in foul ground and Brady Slavens to ground out.
MSU third baseman Kamren James made a great diving stop on Wallace's hot shot into foul territory on a 3-2 pitch.
Arkansas 5, Mississippi State 2 — End 4th Inning
Ryan Costeiu stopped the bleeding in the fourth. He struck out Lane Forsythe and got Scotty Dubrule to ground out to end the inning, which stranded two runners.
Arkansas 5, Mississippi State 2 — Bottom 4th Inning
Mississippi State loaded the bases with no outs on a walk, hit batter and fielder's choice. Kamren James, who had the leadoff walk, scored on a fielder's choice by Josh Hatcher.
Brad Cumbest followed with a one-out single to score Luke Hancock. That's it for Lael Lockhart, who wasn't sharp after he sat for a while during the top of the fourth inning.
Ryan Costeiu inherits runners on the corners with one out.
Arkansas 5, Mississippi State 0 — Top 4th Inning
Jacob Nesbit adds a two-out single to score Robert Moore. The day is over for Mississippi State pitcher Jackson Fristoe.
His partial final line: 3 2/3 innings, 5 runs, 5 hits, 2 walks, 7 strikeouts.
Arkansas 4, Mississippi State 0 — Top 4th Inning
Robert Moore tripled to score Battles with two outs. Tanner Allen left his feet in right field, which probably allowed Moore an extra base. The throw in from the outfield went over the third baseman's head, but Moore stayed put at third.
Arkansas is doing damage again with two outs.
Arkansas 3, Mississippi State 0 — Top 4th Inning
Following the home run, Cayden Wallace singled and Brady Slavens walked with no outs. Both advanced on a wild pitch and scored after Jalen Battles' RBI single on a 2-2 pitch with two outs.
Mississippi State third baseman Kamren James smothered the ball but threw it away, which allowed Slavens to score.
Arkansas 1, Mississippi State 0 — Top 4th Inning
Matt Goodheart just launched his fourth home run in four games, and his third this weekend. It was a no-doubter to right field.
The Razorbacks have hit nine homers in the series.
Arkansas 0, Mississippi State 0 — End 3rd Inning
Mississippi State stranded the bases loaded when Tanner Allen flied out to center field to end the third inning.
Brad Cumbest and Rowdey Jordan both reached on infield singles in the inning, and Scotty Dubrule singled to center field.
Arkansas had a chance to end the inning quite a bit earlier, but Jalen Battles dropped the ball while trying to turn a double play on a slick flip from Robert Moore. Dubrule and Jordan followed with two-out hits.
Arkansas 0, Mississippi State 0 — Middle 3rd Inning
Arkansas went down in order again in the third. Robert Moore and Braydon Webb both struck out, and Jacob Nesbit flied out to right field.
Jackson Fristoe has retired eight straight. He has five strikeouts.
Arkansas 0, Mississippi State 0 — End 2nd Inning
Lael Lockhart has faced the minimum through two innings. He got a couple of ground outs and then struck out Logan Tanner to end the inning.
Arkansas 0, Mississippi State 0 — Middle 2nd Inning
Arkansas had a more aggressive approach in the second half, but the Razorbacks came away hitless against Jackson Fristoe again. Christian Franklin, Casey Opitz and Jalen Battles all flied out.
Fristoe only threw 10 pitches in the inning.
Arkansas 0, Mississippi State 0 — End 1st Inning
Arkansas made a couple of great plays defensively in the bottom of the first. Jacob Nesbit barehanded a dribbler off the bat of Rowdey Jordan and threw him out, and Tanner Allen was thrown out trying to take second base to end the inning.
Allen reached with a two-out single. He tried advancing on a ball that slightly got away from catcher Casey Opitz, but Opitz reacted in plenty of time to throw to Robert Moore at second.
This weekend's fielding has been as good as any series this year for the Razorbacks.
Arkansas 0, Mississippi State 0 — Middle 1st Inning
Matt Goodheart walked with one out, but Mississippi State pitcher Jackson Fristoe struck out the other three batters he faced with a strong mid-90s fastball and a good slider.
Goodheart advanced to second base on a wild pitch that ran the count full to Cayden Wallace. Wallace struck out on a slider, and Brady Slavens struck out looking at a fastball on the outside corner after getting ahead 3-0 in the count.
Pregame
Arkansas will sometimes start multiple backups after taking the first two games of a series, but that's not the case today.
The Razorbacks will start eight of its nine everyday starters as they go for the sweep of the No. 4 Bulldogs today. The exception is at third base, where Jacob Nesbit will get the start over Cullen Smith.
On the mound for Arkansas today is left hander Lael Lockhart (1-1, 2.38 ERA). Mississippi State will counter with right hander Jackson Fristoe (2-1, 1.71).
It will be quite a bit cooler for today's game after storms rolled through Starkville last night. The temperature will be 61 degrees at first pitch and the high is 63.
Running updates by Matt Jones