TALLAHASSEE, Fla. | Recapping MSU's 3-2 loss to Samford in the NCAA Regional at Dick Howser Stadium on Sunday.

• The buzz: MSU had no problem beating some of the best teams in the SEC in Hoover, but it could not figure out a small private school from Birmingham. State lost for the second time this weekend to these other Bulldogs (41-22), having dropped a 5-0 decision on Friday. The culprits today: Missed opportunities with men on base and a crucial two-out error late in the game. MSU got two runners in scoring position with one out in the ninth but couldn't push anyone across.

• Big inning: Samford trailed 2-1 entering the seventh, and the first two hitters were retired. Then Phillip Ervin singled, stole second, and Brandon Miller doubled him home to tie the game. C.K. Irby hit a routine grounder to third, and Sam Frost's throw to first skipped well short of Wes Rea, allowing Miller to score the go-ahead run.

• Key stats: MSU stranded 10 runners, Samford 13. … Each team committed an error. … MSU got the leadoff man on base five times in the first seven innings. Two of those men scored.

• MSU at the plate: State had nine hits. … Adam Frazier, Wes Rea and Matthew Britton had two hits apiece. … MSU scored once in the first and again in the fourth but could've had more. … Mitch Slauter bunted twice with Rea as the lead runner (second and fourth innings), and Rea was thrown out at home and third base, respectively.

• Samford at the plate: Samford collected 12 hits. … Zeth Stone, Brad Moss, Miller and Irby had two hits apiece. … Samford made it 2-1 in the fourth on Tommy Corbin's two-out RBI single.

• MSU on the mound: Starter Jacob Lindgren, a freshman, tossed four-plus innings, allowing one run on eight hits with a walk and three strikeouts. …Five relievers were used, with Jonathan Holder (2-1) taking the loss. His streak of 27 1/3 scoreless innings ended, as he allowed two runs (one earned) on three hits in one inning of work.

• Samford on the mound: Starter Kyle Putkonen got a no-decision, tossing 6 1/3 innings. He allowed two runs on eight hits, struck out five and walked one. … Reliever Joseph Burns (4-1) got the win with 1 2/3 innings of hitless, shutout ball. … Irby pitched the ninth for his 10th save.

• Bottom line: MSU ends its season at 40-24 and short of expectations, especially after last season's surprising run to the Gainesville Super Regional. The bats just couldn't find a consistent groove against Samford, but that's been the case against a lot of teams. Playing six games in as many days in the SEC Tournament could've been a factor, too.

• Quotable: "We had opportunities offensively, and we just didn't do it. We didn't take advantage of it. And that's what happens when guys who don't have a lot of Division I baseball experience. That's why experienced guys usually win. It's not an excuse, it's just a fact." – MSU coach John Cohen

• Video: For Cohen, CLICK HERE