The 15-game homestand that starts the season for Mississippi State was supposed to be part victory lap, part springboard. The team expected to both celebrate last year’s national runner-up finish and start fast out of the gate in hopes of making another run at the College World Series.

Instead, it’s been a rollercoaster ride. Some inconsistent play and schedule changes have made for an uneven 10-day stretch. The latest hiccup came Sunday, when the Bulldogs managed just six hits and lost to Holy Cross for the second straight time, 6-1.

The teams split the four-game series, with Holy Cross taking the last two.

“We’re not putting anything together. I think we will be able to do that at some point, it’s just not happening right now,” Mississippi State coach John Cohen said. “I give all the credit in the world to (Holy Cross). They shoved the ball in the strike zone, they made the plays when we hit balls hard, and they’re a solid ball club. The game is beating us right now.”

Holy Cross blew Sunday’s finale open with a four-run fourth inning. Nick Lovullo, who went 3-for-5 with two RBIs and two runs scored, delivered the big blow with a two-run single.

Mississippi State (4-4) got on the board on Jake Vickerson’s RBI single in the bottom of the fifth, but that only cut its deficit to 5-1. The Bulldogs had one hit the rest of the way.

Holy Cross starter Donny Murray (1-0) allowed just the one run in seven innings. He allowed six hits, walked two and struck out four. Ryan Filipowicz finished up with two scoreless innings.

“He came out today and mixed pitches pretty well. He did a good job of keeping it down. He wasn’t leaving it up like some of their guys this weekend have done,” Vickerson said.

Sunday’s Mississippi college baseball scores

Millsaps 14, Blackburn 3

Holy Cross 6, Mississippi St. 1

Arizona 11, Alcorn St. 1, 1st game

Arizona 20, Alcorn St. 1, 2nd game

Delta St. 10, North Alabama 1

Georgia St. 6, Ole Miss 4

Kansas 11, Miss. Valley St. 1