- Looking back: Maybe that “throw out the records” thing is true. Last-place Mississippi State defeated SEC-tri-leader Ole Miss 2-1 in the three-game series in Oxford, knocking the Rebels out of the three-way lead.

MSU won 6-5 and 11-8 Friday and Saturday. The Rebels salvaged the final game of the series with an 8-1 win on Sunday. Evan Button and Matt Smith had home runs to back the pitching of Phillip Irwin and Jake Morgan in Game 3.

- Looking ahead: The non-conference schedule is complete. The Rebels play their final SEC series at Arkansas beginning Thursday.

- Rankings: The Rebels are No. 9 in the latest Baseball America Top 25.

- In the SEC: Last week Ole Miss shared the overall lead with LSU and Florida. The Tigers beat the Gators twice in Baton Rouge. The Rebels’ two losses drop them one game off the pace with three games left.

Surging Alabama swept Arkansas in Tuscaloosa to pass Ole Miss in the Western Division. The Tide is a half game back. Ole Miss has the tie-breaker against Alabama, not LSU. Florida remains tied with Ole Miss in the overall standings, and the Rebels have the tie-breaker there.

- MVP:Irwin showed some of the form that helped him get off to a fast start earlier this season. He was scheduled to be bumped from the SEC rotation had regular Sunday starter Scott Bittle been healthy. With Ole Miss facing the prospect of being swept at home, Irwin responded with 61⁄3 scoreless innings, four hits and a career-high 10 strikeouts.