FAYETTEVILLE, ARKANSAS - Mississippi State's Alan Johnson pitched six innings allowing only two earned runs as the Bulldogs defeated Arkansas 8-3 Saturday in Southeastern Conference play. <br>
<br>
Mississippi State (16-3-1 overall, 4-1 SEC) claimed the series win against the Razorbacks. Arkansas (18-4, 2-3) now has lost consecutive games for the first time this season. <br>
<br>
Johnson (3-0) threw 99 pitches in six innings and struck out two. He allowed seven hits. Jonathan Papelbon pitched the final three innings allowing only two hits and one walk with five strikeouts for his first save of the season. <br>
<br>
Clint Brannon (1-1) took the loss after giving up four runs, all earned, on six hits in three innings. Brannon struck out three and walked three on 65 pitches. <br>
<br>
The Bulldogs took an early lead with a run in the top of the first. With the bases loaded, J.B. Tucker walked. The Bulldogs got another run in the second inning before Brady Toops walked home for Arkansas on an RBI fielder's choice by Scott Bridges with the bases loaded. <br>
<br>
The Bulldogs jumped to 4-1 on Joseph Hunter's two-run triple that scored Craig Tatum and Tucker. <br>
<br>
In the bottom of the third, Clay Goodwin scored for Arkansas from second. Haas Pratt opened the bottom of the fifth with a solo home run for Arkansas, his sixth of the season. <br>
<br>
In the seventh, Matthew Masiscalco and Steven Gendron gave Mississippi State back-to-back home runs. Brent Lewis hit a sacrifice fly that scored Brad Corley from third and Jon Mungle went home on a single by Corley.
