FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Connor Noland hopped neatly off the mound after getting Brad Cumbest to chase a slider off the plate.
The Arkansas right-hander got Cumbest swinging to close the seventh inning, wrapping up an effective start Friday against Mississippi State at Baum-Walker Stadium: seven innings, six strikeouts and just one run.
Meanwhile, the man who was supposed to match him frame for frame and K for K, leaned on the railing of the third-base dugout, his prized right arm immobilized in a brace.
Landon Sims could only watch.
Out for the season since tearing his ulnar collateral ligament on March 4 at Tulane, Sims was powerless to help as Mississippi State’s Friday night pitching fell short again in an 8-1 road loss at No. 2 Arkansas.
Preston Johnson gave up six runs in the second inning as the Bulldogs (16-11, 3-4 Southeastern Conference) fell behind early against the Razorbacks (20-4, 6-1 SEC) and never caught up.
“They outpitched us, outhit us and outdefended us,” MSU coach Chris Lemonis said. “When that happens, it’s not a good recipe for your ballclub.”
MSU managed just four hits against Noland, who became the latest Friday night starter to stymie the Bulldogs. Through three series, Mississippi State has managed just two runs in 20 1/3 innings against the SEC’s best arms.
Johnson, moved into MSU’s premier pitching role, just hasn’t been able to measure up. He’s allowed 13 earned runs in 16 innings in SEC play, good for an ERA of 7.31.
Arkansas shortstop Jalen Battles tagged Johnson for two home runs Friday: a two-run shot in the Razorbacks’ big second inning and a solo homer in the third.
Battles’ first home run preceded RBI singles by catcher Michael Turner and right fielder Chris Lanzilli before second baseman Robert Moore sent a ball into the gap. Right fielder Kellum Clark slid to attempt the catch, but the ball bounced in front of him and kicked away, handing Moore a two-run triple.
“The way that we played tonight, we wouldn’t have beaten anybody in the country tonight,” Mississippi State first baseman Luke Hancock said.
The Bulldogs did themselves no favors by committing three errors, including two by shortstop Tanner Leggett in the first two innings. Leggett dropped a high pop-up in shallow left-center to lead off the bottom of the first, putting third baseman Cayden Wallace on second base.
“We get a first-pitch out, you think, and we dropped it,” Lemonis said. “It kind of set the tone for the night.”
Three walks issued by Johnson in the first two frames didn’t help things, and the former Hinds Community College pitcher departed after four innings and 97 pitches.
Still, Mississippi State managed to keep Friday’s game as close as it was despite a barrage of Arkansas baserunners throughout the contest. The Hogs scored eight, but they left 12 men on base — including at least one in each of the first seven innings — as they constantly failed to bury the Bulldogs for good.
Arkansas stranded two men in the first before Johnson struck out Battles on his final pitch with the bases loaded and two out in the fourth. Freshman lefty Cole Cheatham walked the bases loaded in the sixth, but Drew Talley induced a flyout to center to end the threat.
Talley finished out the game for Mississippi State, which kept its bullpen relatively fresh for the remainder of the series.
“I thought Drew finishing that game and kind of holding it tight for us so we didn’t have to go through our bullpen was an important piece,” Lemonis said.
The Bulldogs produced their lone run on a solo home run by catcher Logan Tanner in the fourth inning against Noland. MSU had hits in the second, third and seventh but stranded a baserunner each time.
Relievers Zebulon Vermillion and Kole Ramage shut down the Bulldogs’ offense in the final two innings as Arkansas finished off the win.
“I feel like they attacked us tonight instead of us attacking them,” Hancock said. “That’s not how Mississippi State baseball is. We have to be the aggressor, and we have to come out tomorrow and do just that.”
MSU and Arkansas play Game 2 of the series at 6:30 p.m. Saturday. Parker Stinnett will take the ball for the Bulldogs.
“He’s going to have to come out and give us a good start,” Lemonis said. “For us to have a chance tomorrow, he’s got to be able to throw that breaking ball for strikes all day long.”
Theo DeRosa reports on Mississippi State sports for The Dispatch. Follow him on Twitter at @Theo_DeRosa.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 37 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.