Mississippi
Outfielder Connor Hujsak out for Mississippi State baseball's series at Arkansas
Mississippi State baseball was without Connor Hujsak in Friday’s series-opening 7-5 loss at Arkansas, and the senior outfielder won’t return for the remainder of the three-game set. Coach Chris Lemonis told reporters after the game that Hujsak tweaked his back this week.
“Hopefully we will have him back next weekend,” Lemonis said.
Despite Hujsak’s absence, the Bulldogs (32-17, 14-11 SEC) were able to get to Arkansas ace Hagen Smith. The left-handed starter lasting only five innings and allowed three runs — all coming on a three-run double from Hunter Hines in the fifth. Mississippi State was the first team to score at least three earned runs against Smith since James Madison accomplished it on Feb. 16.
MSU starter Khal Stephen outlasted Smith. The former Purdue transfer threw seven innings and allowed four runs.
Mississippi State held a 5-4 lead in the eighth inning. However, against relief pitcher Tyson Hardin, who hadn’t allowed an earned run in SEC play before Friday, the Razorbacks (41-9, 18-7) rallied for three runs in the penultimate inning to win.
Hujsak’s .349 batting average ranks second on the team while his eight home runs rank third behind Dakota Jordan and Hines. In conference play, Hujsak leads the team with a .387 batting average, which ranked fourth among SEC players entering Friday.
Jordan moved from right field to center with Hujsak out. Aaron Downs, who hasn’t played since an April 21 win against Auburn, started in right field Friday. He was 1-for-5 with a run scored.
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Stefan Krajisnik is the Mississippi State beat writer for the Clarion Ledger. Contact him at skrajisnik@gannett.com or follow him on the X platform, formerly known as Twitter, @skrajisnik3.
This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Connor Hujsak injury: Mississippi State baseball OF out vs. Arkansas
Mississippi
Mississippi College Baseball Wins Series vs. West Florida for First Time
Mississippi College baseball has won the series against West Florida for the first time ever
The Choctaws have been playing UWF since 2015
MC won the first two games and put on a bit of a comeback in game 3
Next: GSC at Delta St., then Conference Tournament
Mississippi
George County High School senior killed in Highway 26 crash, MHP says
GEORGE COUNTY, Miss. (WLOX) — A George County High School senior is dead after an SUV hit him while bicycling on Highway 26 Friday night.
Mississippi Highway Patrol (MHP) officials said at 8:15 p.m. the MHP responded to a fatal crash on Highway 26 in George County.
Those officials said a Ford SUV traveling west on Highway 26 collided with 18-year-old Tyree Bradley of McLain, Mississippi, who was bicycling.
Bradley was fatally injured and died at the scene, MHP officials said.
The crash remains under investigation by the MHP.
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Mississippi
Mississippi State Drops Series Opener at Texas A&M Despite Late Chances
Some losses feel like they drag on longer than the box score suggests, and Mississippi State’s 3-1 opener at Texas A&M fits that category.
It wasn’t a blowout. It wasn’t a game where the Bulldogs looked outmatched.
It was just one of those nights where the early mistakes stuck around and the offense never quite found the swing that could shake them loose.
The frustrating part is how quickly the hole formed. Two solo homers and a wild pitch in the first two innings put Mississippi State behind 3-0, and that was basically the ballgame.
Against a top tier SEC team on the road, spotting three runs that early is a tough ask. The Bulldogs didn’t fold, but they also didn’t cash in when the door cracked open.
“I liked our fight. I think we’re really just working through some things offensively, and trying to stay together,” Mississippi State coach Samantha Ricketts said. “This team still believes, and we’re going to battle and fight every chance we get, and I think I saw a lot of that. I’m encouraged for what that means for us moving forward, but, you know, they’re a good hitting team, and we’ve got to be able to shut them down early. I don’t think Peja [Goold] had her best stuff, but she continued to battle out there and find ways to get outs.”
They had chances. Two runners stranded in the fifth. Two more in the sixth. Another in the seventh. Des Rivera finally got the Bulldogs on the board with an RBI single, but the big hit that usually shows up for this lineup never arrived.
It wasn’t a lack of traffic. It was a lack of finish.
If there was a bright spot, it came from the bullpen. Delainey Everett gave Mississippi State exactly what it needed after the rocky start.
“That was just a huge relief appearance by Delaney to keep us in it,” Ricketts said. “It’s really good to have her back and healthy these last few weeks because these are the moments where we really need her and rely on her. We know that she’s going to be a big part of the remainder of the season going forward as well.”
Three hitless innings, one baserunner, and a reminder that she’s quietly putting together a strong stretch.
There were individual positives too. Nadia Barbary keeps climbing the doubles list. Kiarra Sells keeps finding ways on base.
But the bigger picture is simple. Mississippi State is now 6-10 in the SEC, and the margin for error is shrinking. Nights like this one are the difference between climbing back into the race and staying stuck in the middle.
They get another shot this morning with the schedule bumped up for weather. The formula isn’t complicated.
Clean up the early innings, keep getting quality relief, and find one or two timely swings. The Bulldogs didn’t get them Friday. They’ll need them today.
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