No. 5 Arkansas walks off No. 3 Mississippi State in series opener
By Andrew Olson
Published:
The opener of the top-5 series clash between Arkansas and Mississippi State lived up to the hype on Friday night. A dramatic 9th inning concluded when TJ Pompey lifted No. 5 Arkansas to a walk-off win over No. 3 Mississippi State.
Arkansas took a 4-2 lead into the 9th inning. Mississippi State was down to its last out when Ryder Woodson silenced the Baum-Walker crowd with a 2-run bomb to make it a 4-4 ball game.
RYDER WOODSON SILENCES BAUM WALKER
— 11Point7 College Baseball (@11point7) March 14, 2026
Mississippi State has tied this game with 2 outs in the 9th pic.twitter.com/Xdc5rofM0e
Arkansas fans, though, didn’t have to wait long to cheer again. TJ Pompey was the first Razorback up in the bottom of the 9th, and he called game. With a blast to right-center, Pompey delivered the 5-4 win for the Hogs.
TJ POMPEY WALK OFF BOMB. HOGS WIN pic.twitter.com/tw95ZaZjya
— 11Point7 College Baseball (@11point7) March 14, 2026
Arkansas starter Gabe Gaeckle went 5.2 innings. He allowed 8 hits and 3 walks, but finished with just 2 earned runs. Cole Gibler picked up the win, tossing 3.1 IP, allowing 2 earned runs on 3 hits and 2 walks, striking out 3.
Mississippi State’s Ryan McPherson went 6 IP, allowing 4 runs (3 earned) on 5 hits with 8 strikeouts and no walks. Jack Gleason, Dane Burns and Braden Booth kept the Hogs off the board until the walk-off was hit against Maddox Miller, the losing pitcher.
Arkansas improves to 13-5 overall after winning the SEC opener. Mississippi State is now 15-3. The Razorbacks and Bulldogs will be back at it to decide the series in Saturday’s doubleheader.
Are these teams contenders to win it all? Kalshi is taking action on national championship predictions!
Andrew writes about sports to fund his love of live music and collection of concert posters. He strongly endorses the Hall of Fame campaigns of Fred Taylor and Andruw Jones.
