STARKVILLE, Miss. (Interstat) — Andreas Alvarez pitched 4 2/3 scoreless innings with seven strikeouts as Auburn defeated Mississippi State 5-4 on Friday at Dudy Noble Field. The Tigers (34-15) snapped a two-game skid, while the Bulldogs (38-13) lost for the second time in three games.

Auburn built an early lead, scoring four runs through the fifth inning. Chris Rembert drove in two runs and Ethin Bingaman added an RBI single. Chase Fralick delivered the decisive blow with a solo homer in the ninth inning, his second RBI of the game. Jackson Sanders tossed 4 1/3 relief innings for the win, allowing two earned runs.

Mississippi State answered with two runs in the fifth on Reed Stallman’s two-run homer. Ace Reese recorded four hits and an RBI, and Maddox Miller gave the Bulldogs 1 1/3 scoreless relief innings. Duke Stone started for Mississippi State and allowed four earned runs in 4 2/3 innings.