STARKVILLE, Miss. (AP) -With departing coach Ron Polk in the dugout for the last time, Mississippi State put on a spirited rally but fell to Arkansas 15-10 Saturday in the coach's 2,075th and final career game.

``We had trouble throwing strikes today, the same trouble we've had all season long,'' Polk said. ``But I was proud of our kids for battling back. After falling behind by nine runs we got back into the game and had a chance to finish the season with a sweep.''

Mississippi State won the first two games of the year's final series to knock Arkansas out of the Southeastern Conference tournament. But three Arkansas relievers provided four innings of one-hit relief and the Razorbacks (33-22, 14-13 SEC) capitalized on five Mississippi State errors to beat the Bulldogs (23-33, 9-21).

It was first losing season in 35 years for Polk. He is seventh on the NCAA's career victories list and finished 1,373-700-2 with Mississippi State, Georgia and Georgia Southern. He is the SEC's career victories leader.

Polk, 64, resigned in March, saying he could not live with recent NCAA rules changes he vigorously fought over the last year.

Mississippi State honored Polk before the game. More than 85 former players returned to Starkville to take part in the ceremony for the coach who led eight teams to College World Series berths. Among those in attendance was SEC Commissioner Mike Slive.

``Everything was first class and it meant a lot to me,'' Polk said. ``It was great to see so many former players around me on the field. I'll miss the kids and the competition. And I hope maybe something can be worked out that I can stay a part of the program somehow. Mississippi State baseball is a family affair.''Copyright © 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. The information contained in the AP News report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press.