STARKVILLE, Miss. — Arkansas blew another lead Friday, limiting the Razorbacks to one final opportunity today to make the SEC Tournament.

Mississippi State rallied for four runs in the ninth inning to defeat Arkansas 6-5 before 2, 323 at Dudy Noble Field. Relief pitcher Mike Bolsinger walked in the tying run before Russ Sneed hit an RBI single to right field to give Mississippi State its second consecutive victory over the Razorbacks.

Casey Coon put Arkansas ahead in the top of the ninth with a two-run single and Brett Eibner added to the lead with an RBI double. But the Razorbacks, who have lost several leads this season, could not hold on against the last-place Bulldogs.

“We’ve got to finish the game and we didn’t,” Arkansas Coach Dave Van Horn said. “We didn’t field a ball and we gave up some hits in the ninth inning. We just didn’t get it done.”

ADVERTISEMENT

Arkansas (32-22, 13-15 ) fell to ninth place in the SEC overall standings, and the Razorbacks must win today and hope for a loss by either South Carolina or Ole Miss.

Arkansas and Mississippi State (23-32, 9-20 ) will conclude SEC play today at 3 p. m. in a game that will be televised by FSN South. Mississippi State Coach Ron Polk will be honored in pregame ceremonies after announcing his resignation earlier this season. His players have talked all week about winning for Polk in his final appearance for the Bulldogs after 29 years.

“I heard some of the same thing when I announced my retirement and we lost 10 in a row,” Polk said. “I appreciate the guys saying that, but this is a game of ability and concentration. It’s a game of excellence, and whoever performs better will win.”

Arkansas will start Dallas Keuchel today against Justin Pigott for Mississippi State. Keuchel was named SEC pitcher of the week after pitching eight scoreless innings and striking out 10 in a 4-2 victory over South Carolina last Sunday.

Junior left-hander Cliff Springston gave Arkansas a chance Friday by pitching seven solid innings. He was charged with two runs after Nick Hardy hit an RBI triple off Stephen Richards to tie the game 2-2 in the eighth. John Lalor struck out 12 in seven innings for Mississippi State.

Ryan Powers finished with three hits for the Bulldogs, while Logan Forsythe and Tim Smalling led the Razorbacks with two hits each.

Ryan Duffy led off with a single against Stephen Richards to start Mississippi State’s ninth-inning rally. Jet Butler walked before Jeff Flagg hit a single to load the bases. Bolsinger entered the game and No. 9 batter Ryan Powers greeted him with an RBI single. Ryan Hogue reached on an infield single to score a run and Hardy walked. Bolsinger got T. J. Moore on a forceout before Sneed lifted a fly ball to right-center field for a single and the game-winning run.

“Once you see that good things are happening, it starts going to the next guy,” Sneed said of the Bulldogs’ late rally. “The momentum starts to change and anything can happen.”

Polk was happy with Mississippi State’s first back-to-back victories in conference play, but he said he sympathized with Arkansas’ struggles to make the SEC Tournament.

“Even when you win a game like that, you feel bad for the kids on the other team,” Polk said. “They had it won and we took it away from them. They’re playing for a lot and we’re playing for pride and whatever.”

Coon hit a sacrifice fly in the seventh to give Arkansas a 2-1 lead. The inning looked much more promising when the Razorbacks loaded the bases with no outs on an infield single by Chase Leavitt, a double by Ben Tschepikow and an intentional walk to Forsythe. Andy Wilkins struck out for the second consecutive time before Coon hit a fly ball to score Leavitt. Lalor, the Bulldogs’ 6-7 senior starter, then got Eibner on a foul pop-up to end the inning.

Arkansas broke on top 1-0 against Lalor in the fourth. Lalor hit Ryan Cisterna with a pitch and allowed a single to Eibner before Smalling delivered a twoout single to left field. Lalor allowed two runs in seven innings before being relieved by Chad Crosswhite.