TJ Pompey waited all night for his chance.
The Arkansas Razorbacks opened Southeastern Conference play Friday with a dramatic finish, beating Mississippi State 5-4 on Pompey’s walk-off home run in the ninth inning at Baum-Walker Stadium.
Pompey didn’t start the game and entered earlier as a defensive replacement.
His only trip to the plate came with the game on the line.
Arkansas had just watched Mississippi State erase a two-run deficit in the top of the ninth inning.
The Bulldogs tied the score at 4-4 and appeared to steal the momentum late.
But the Hogs still had one more opportunity to answer.
Pompey stepped into the batter’s box for the first time all night.
He connected on a pitch and sent the ball soaring toward right-center field.
The drive cleared the fence for a walk-off home run.
Arkansas players poured out of the dugout to celebrate as the Razorbacks secured the win.
The victory improved Arkansas to 13-5 overall while Mississippi State dropped to 15-3.
A crowd of 10,464 at Baum-Walker Stadium watched the dramatic finish between two ranked teams beginning SEC play.
For Pompey, one swing turned a quiet night into the biggest moment of the game.
Bulldogs rally in ninth before Arkansas responds
Before Pompey’s home run ended it, Mississippi State delivered its own late surge.
The Bulldogs entered the ninth inning trailing Arkansas 4-2.
State still had work to do with two outs and a runner on base.
Ryder Woodson stepped to the plate and changed the game with one swing.
Woodson launched a two-run home run that tied the score and silenced the crowd.
The blast evened the game at 4-4 and gave Mississippi State fresh momentum heading into the bottom half of the inning.
After trailing for much of the night, the Bulldogs had suddenly forced a tie.
Arkansas still had three outs to decide the game.
The Razorbacks needed a response after watching their lead disappear.
Pompey delivered that answer moments later.
The walk-off swing ended Mississippi State’s comeback attempt and gave the Hogs the opening victory in the series.
Razorbacks score early to control game
Arkansas spent much of the night playing from in front.
The Razorbacks took the lead in the first inning with an early run.
Arkansas added another run in the third inning to build a 2-0 advantage.
Mississippi State chipped away at the deficit in the fifth inning.
The Bulldogs scored twice in the frame to tie the game at 2-2.
The Hogs answered quickly.
Arkansas pushed across another run later in the inning to move back in front.
That run gave the Razorbacks a 3-2 lead as the game moved into the later innings.
Arkansas later added another run, stretching the margin to 4-2 and putting pressure back on Mississippi State.
The Bulldogs eventually rallied in the ninth inning, but Pompey’s home run ensured the Razorbacks would finish the night on top.
SEC series continues after dramatic opener
Friday’s game opened SEC play for both programs and showed how evenly matched the teams could be.
Arkansas and Mississippi State entered the weekend ranked among the nation’s top teams.
The back-and-forth opener featured strong pitching, timely hitting and late drama.
Mississippi State produced a rally in the final inning that briefly shifted the game’s direction.
The Razorbacks responded quickly.
Pompey’s walk-off home run ended the game and sent the Arkansas dugout onto the field.
With a drastic drop in temperatures from Saturday to Sunday forecasted, the two teams and SEC have agreed to play a doubleheader on Saturday, starting at 1 p.m.
