UPDATE: Due to rain in Austin, first-pitch of Friday's series-opener between Mississippi State and Texas has been postponed to 7:30 p.m. Mississippi State is stepping into its toughest stretch of the season, and it starts deep in the heart of Texas. The Bulldogs head to Austin this weekend for a top‑five matchup with No. 4 Texas, the first of three straight Top 10 opponents waiting for them in May. Texas sits just a half‑game ahead of Mississippi State in a league race where the top five teams are separated by a single game. It’s the kind of series that can swing the standings in a hurry. For Mississippi State, this is the first ranked SEC opponent since the Georgia sweep in early April. The maroon-colored Bulldogs have won nine straight since then and look like a team that’s found its rhythm again. Now they get a chance to prove it against one of the best lineups and pitching staffs in the country. Here’s how to watch the weekend and what to know heading into Friday’s opener in Austin. The Opponent: No.…