After a great weekend of weather and baseball in which Mississippi State (16-9, 2-4) found itself deadlocked in extra innings against No. 3 Arkansas (22-3, 5-1) in the rubber game of their three game SEC series many watching and observing were wondering had head coach John Cohen’s young team finally arrived.
After all they were in the top of the 11th inning dead locked with the No. 3 team in the country, looking to take the series from the Razorbacks. But- it was Arkansas that showed why they are one of the best teams in the country this year on the diamond. With the bases juiced the Hogs broke out with five runs to take an 8-3 lead and ultimately close off the Bulldogs by the final count of 8-5 at Duty Noble Field in Starkville on Sunday afternoon.
For Cohen, it’s frustrating to drop the first two series in SEC play by such a close margin but it’s not by a lack of effort from his squad. “Our kids competed their hearts out today. I really feel our kids are giving everything they possibly can to keep us in games and give us the best chance to win,” Cohen said. “It’s just not happening right now.”
Cohen did have high praise for the Razorbacks and feels like his young team is just a step off where the Hogs are right now.
“This is a club (Arkansas) that can win the national championship,” said Cohen. “They’re going to compete for the league championship. And we’re so stinking close to being at that level even with virtually no experience on the field.”
But for State and Cohen they know they have to get back up and play ball.
The Dawgs host Alcorn State (6-17, 5-4 SWAC) at 6:30 Tuesday. Then they are back on the Western Division road for a weekend at Auburn.
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