Tigers competitive in loss at No. 3 Mississippi State

STARKVILLE, Miss. – The Tigers of Texas Southern University were tied with the No. 3-ranked team in the nation for the majority of Tuesday’s game before an eighth-inning rally lifted Mississippi State to a 5-1 victory.
 
The Bulldogs scored four runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to pull away from the Tigers and claim the win.
 
Alex Olguin started and pitched seven and two-thirds innings for the Tigers. He struck out three batters while tossing six scoreless innings after ceding a run to the Bulldogs in the bottom of the first.
 
Texas Southern tied the game in the top of the third when an error on a double-steal attempt allowed Christian Sanchez to score after stealing third. Olajide Oloruntimilehin, who walked three times in the game, stole second and then took third base on the play.
 
Sanchez and Nic Garza picked up base hits in the game for TSU.
 
The Tigers return to action Friday when they open a three-game series at Southwestern Athletic Conference rival Southern. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m.