Fresh off winning the Ferriss Trophy, Mississippi State’s Chris Stratton showed why he was deserving of the honor.

The right-hander became Mississippi State’s first 10-game winner in 10 years, pitching 61⁄3 innings and allowing just six hits, to lead the Bulldogs to a 3-1 victory over second-ranked Kentucky in the opener of the final regular season series.

“This is the game we have to win and this is the manner in which we have to win it — one-run and two-run games with the pitching and defense,” MSU coach John Cohen said.

MSU (32-21, 14-14 SEC) struck first with two runs in the fourth inning. With one on, Mitch Slauter followed with a double down the left field line. Brent Brownlee reached as a hit batsman to load the bases. Wes Rea followed with a two-run single back through the left side of the infield.

                                                                                                         

On the air

Kentucky at Miss. St.

7 p.m. SportSouth

Radio: 105.5 FM

Ole Miss at Vandy

6:30 p.m.

Radio: 1490 AM

                                                                                                         

UAB 2, Southern Miss 1

Former Porters Chapel pitcher Michael Busby pitched 71⁄3 innings and a bases-loaded walk by Keith DePew gave UAB the win in the opener of the regular-season finale for both teams.

Busby (4-4) struck out four and scattered five hits.

Former Stringer pitcher Andrew Pierce was solid as well, allowing a run on six hits in seven innings of work.

After UAB took an early 1-0 lead off Pierce, Southern Miss (28-23, 12-10 Conference USA) tied the game on a Blake Brown RBI triple in the top of the seventh.

Vanderbilt 3, Ole Miss 0

Bobby Wahl turned in his eighth quality start of the season, but No. 22 Ole Miss (34-20, 14-14 SEC) couldn’t get the offense going in a loss at Vanderbilt (27-25, 14-14 ).

Wahl (6-2) took the loss despite a solid outing. He allowed three runs — only two of them earned — on the three hits with two walks and five strikeouts in 71⁄3 innings of work.

T.J. Pecoraro (1-4) picked up the win as he tossed a complete game for Vanderbilt, allowing five hits and striking out three.

“They played their game tonight which is to bunt, and hit and run, especially with the top of their lineup,” said Ole Miss head coach Mike Bianco. “They did a good job of getting runs in the few opportunities they had tonight.”

Delta State 2, North Alabama 0

Josh Branstetter pitched 81⁄3 shutout innings and Jordan Chovanec went 4-for-4, all singles, with an RBI as the Statesmen won their NCAA South Region Tournament opener at Sam Bailey Field. The Statesmen play again tonight at 6:45.

Miss. Valley St. 7, Alcorn St. 6

Mississippi Valley State’s magical ride in the SWAC Baseball Tournament continued with a win over Alcorn State in 12 innings. The No. 4 seed from the Eastern Division, the Delta Devils, pulled their second upset in as many days to advance in the winner’s bracket. Demetrins Bonner’s pinch-hit RBI single in the bottom of the 12th provided the winning run. The Braves played an elimination game today at 9 a.m. against Southern. The Delta Devils are one win away from making it to Sunday’s championship game.

Prairie View 2, Jackson St. 0

Stef Hernandez tossed a four-hit shutout for Prairie View as the Panthers defeated Jackson State in the winner’s bracket. Jackson State and Texas Southern play in an elimination game today at noon.