Mississippi State coughed up four runs in the first inning, and the Florida Gators never looked back, knocking off the Bulldogs 6-3 Friday night in Starkville. For the Bulldogs, the loss marked the fifth time in six SEC series that the Maroon and White lost the series opener.
Mississippi State now stands at 6-10 in SEC play and 22-17 overall. With the Bulldogs needing something positive, the pressure will be on Mississippi State to pick up wins on Saturday and Sunday.
The Bulldogs will send Austin Sexton (3-3, 3.52 ERA) to the mound to face the Gators. The sophomore's last two starts in SEC play came against Kentucky and Auburn, and both games saw Sexton draw the loss. He did not start against South Carolina or Texas A&M.
Florida will counter by sending Dane Dunning (4-1, 3.19 ERA) to the hill.
