- Looking back: The Bulldogs dropped the first two games at Arkansas but snapped a six-game SEC losing skid with a 12-4 victory in Game 3. State is tied with Alabama for last place in the Western Division.

After Arkansas exploded for 20 runs in Game 1, MSU's hurlers got progressively better.

Tyler Whitney yielded five runs in six innings in Game 2 - which like Game 3 was played Sunday and went seven innings - and freshman lefty Nick Routt (3-1, 2.79 ERA) threw a complete game in the finale, allowing three earned runs on nine hits while striking out seven.

It was Routt's second straight complete game on the road, the other coming in a 4-0 loss to Georgia.

- Looking ahead: MSU plays host to Mississippi Valley State (10-12) at 6:30 p.m. today. It's the second meeting this year, with State winning 4-3 on Feb. 25 in Starkville. Sophomore lefty Forrest Moore (2-0, 2.91) will start for MSU.

On Wednesday, State travels to Louisiana-Monroe (15-11) for a 6:30 p.m. start.

- In the SEC: After two straight SEC road series, the Bulldogs are home for a three-game set with Auburn starting Friday at 6:30 p.m. The Tigers (18-9, 4-5 SEC) took two out of three against Vanderbilt over the weekend, their second series win of the season.

Auburn sophomore outfielder Trent Mummey leads the SEC in runs scored with 44.

- MVP: Junior third baseman Russ Sneed hit .533 (8-for-15) with six RBIs and five runs scored over five games. In Sunday's 12-4 win over Arkansas, he was 3-for-3 with five RBIs. For the season, Sneed is second on the team with a .346 average.