HOOVER, Ala. – Adam Frazier had three hits, while Wes Rea hit a three-run home run to lead Mississippi State to a 9-1 win over Arkansas on Tuesday afternoon in the first round of the SEC Tournament at Regions Park.
Matt Vinson had a pair of hits and drove in a run to lead the Razorbacks (39-18) at the plate. Bo Bigham, Tim Carver, Dominic Ficociello, Jacob Mahan and John Clay Reeves each had one hit. Matt Reynolds reached base for the 40th straight game after getting hit by a pitch in the first inning.
Frazier had a game-high three hits for the Bulldogs (35-21). Rea drove in three runs, all coming on a three-run homer in the second inning. Demarcus Henderson had two hits and scored twice, while Sam Frost drove in two runs.
Brandon Woodruff earned the win on the mound for the Bulldogs. Woodruff threw five scoreless innings and struck out five. Jonathan Holder picked up his seventh save of the season after tossing 1.2 hiteless innings with a strikeout.
Arkansas starter Ryne Stanek took the loss after giving up three runs on four hits and striking out seven in 5 2/3 innings.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
Mississippi State struck first, scoring three times in the top of the second. Hunter Renfroe drew a leadoff walk and then advanced to third on a one-out single by Henderson, who took second on the throw to third. Rea then hit a three-run homer over the wall in left field to put the Bulldogs in front 3-0.
Arkansas got on the board with a run in the bottom of the sixth. With two outs, Bigham doubled down the left field line and then advanced to third after an infield single off the bat of Reeves. Vinson then came through with a RBI single to right field, scoring Bigham to cut the lead to 3-1.
The Razorbacks put the tying runs on base in the eighth, but were unable to plate any runs. Mississippi State brought home six runs in the top of the ninth with all six runs scoring with two outs.
The Razorbacks are back in action at 9:30 a.m. today as they face Ole Miss in an elimination game. The Rebels dropped a 2-0 decision to Kentucky in the first game on Tuesday.