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Hogs pull out nailbiter win in NLR against Grambling State

Arkansas pulled out another nailbiting win at Dickey-Stephens Park on Tuesday night with an eighth-inning rally for a 7-6 win over Grambling.

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NORTH LITTLE ROCK — Arkansas pulled out another nailbiting win at Dickey-Stephens Park on Tuesday night with an eighth-inning rally for a 7-6 win over Grambling.

After the Tigers had a four-run eighth inning, the Razorbacks answered.

Eric Cole’s two-out, two-run single in the eighth inning gave Arkansas the lead for good. It came after an RBI single by Jordan McFarland and sacrifice fly by Jax Biggers.

“I hit a fastball in,” Cole said in a postgame radio interview. “I was little bit out front, but luckily still caught a barrel and got it through the hole.”

The rally was necessitated by Kole Ramage’s meltdown in the top of the eighth. He gave up four earned runs on three hits and a hit by pitch and got only two outs in the inning after retiring six of the first seven batters he faced.

Jackson Rutledge actually allowed Drexler Macaay’s go-ahead two-run double with two outs, but the runs were charged to Ramage because he put them on base.

Arkansas had to bring in ace closer Matt Cronin to close it out and earn his seventh save.

Making his third career start, Caleb Bolden, allowed two earned runs and struck out six in five innings.

Despite a team ERA of 7.12, Grambling kept Arkansas’ potent offense quiet thanks to a steady rotation on the mound.

The Tigers used eight of the 11 pitchers that have made an appearance this season, with only starter Elijah Saunders pitching more than one inning.

“There’s always going to be a little period of adjustment,” Cole said. “Every pitcher is different, every release point is different. We had to change our approach a little bit.”

The Razorbacks couldn’t get into a groove until Grambling inserted Raul Baduel, a usual weekend starter, in the eighth. He didn’t retire any of the four batters he faced and they all eventually scored.

Such a close game is nothing new for Arkansas at Dickey-Stephens Park.

In nine trips to the home of the Arkansas Travelers, the Razorbacks have played five one-run games despite playing teams with an average RPI of 179.

Included in that is a 2-1 victory over Mississippi Valley State in 2013, when the Delta Devils finished dead last in the RPI.

The Razorbacks typically come out on top, though. Their lone loss was to Memphis in 2015, when they eventually made it to the College World Series.

Arkansas returns to Baum Stadium later this week for a three-game series against South Carolina beginning Thursday. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m. and it will be televised on the SEC Network.

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2024 Razorbacks Football

Thu, Aug 29vs UAPB (Little Rock)W, 70-0
Sat, Sep 7@ Oklahoma StateL, 31-39 2OT
Sat, Sep 14vs UABW, 37-27
Sat, Sep 21@ AuburnW, 24-14
Sat, Sep 28vs Texas A&M (Arl)L, 21-17
Sat, Oct 5vs TennesseeW, 19-14
Sat, Oct 19vs LSUL, 34-10
Sat, Oct 26@ Mississippi StateW, 58-25
Sat, Nov 2vs Ole MissL, 63-35
Sat, Nov 16vs Texas11:00 AM
Sat, Nov 23vs Louisiana TechTBD
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Sat, Nov 30@ MissouriTBD
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2024 High School Rankings

Following is the Arkansas Sports Media High School Football Poll including the Overall Top 10, the top five in Classes 7A, 6A, 5A, 4A, 3A and 2A, plus the top three in the 8-man division, as voted by a panel of sports media from around the state for the week ending August 24. Ranking is given with first-place votes received, records, total points and ranking from last week's poll:
OVERALLRecordPtsPrv
1.Bryant (18)8-02521
2.Conway (6)8-02302
3.Greenwood (2)8-02103
4.Little Rock Parkview7-11714
5.Bentonville5-31416
6.Benton7-11265
7.Fayetteville6-21008
8.Pulaski Academy6-2757
9.Rogers5-3459
10.Shiloh Christian6-24010
Others receiving votes: Marion 13, Valley View 9, Joe T Robinson 8, Mountain Home 4, Cabot 3, Elkins 3.
CLASS 7A
1.Bryant (20)8-01241
2.Conway (6)8-01052
3.Bentonville5-3753
4.Fayetteville6-2455
5.Pulaski Academy6-2354
Others receiving votes: Rogers 5.
CLASS 6A
1.Greenwood (26)8-01301
2.Benton7-11022
3.Shiloh Christian6-2713
4.Marion7-1524
5.Mountain Home7-131
Others receiving votes: Little Rock Catholic 4.
CLASS 5A
1.Little Rock Parkview (23)7-11271
2.Joe T Robinson7-1902
3.Valley View (3)8-0803
4.Hot Springs Lakeside7-1484
5.Farmington7-130
Others receiving votes: Camden Fairview 4, Maumelle 4, Morrilton 3, Greenbrier 2, Harding Academy 1.
CLASS 4A
1.Elkins (19)8-01161
2.Arkadelphia (5)6-2792
3.Little Rock Mills (1)8-0703
4.Warren6-2404
5.Malvern (1)8-0315
Others receiving votes: Dardanelle 22, Southside Batesville 11, Mena 8, Bauxite 7, DeWitt 4, Highland 2.
CLASS 3A
4.Bismarck (15)8-01054
5.Fordyce (4)8-0765
Prescott (3)7-1531t
1.Osceola (2)6-149
3.Mayflower (1)8-036
Others receiving votes: Booneville (1) 31, Rivercrest 19, Mansfield 14, Charleston 4, Rison 3.
CLASS 2A
1.Carlisle (21)8-01211
2.Conway Christian (4)8-01042
3.Des Arc7-1663
4.Bigelow (1)6-2455
5.Murfreesboro6-230
Others receiving votes: Marked Tree 10, Mineral Springs 6, Junction City 5, Cross County 1, Mount Ida 1, Poyen 1
8-MAN SANCTIONED
1.Strong-Huttig (25)5-0761
2.Midland (1)7-0502
3.Cedar Ridge7-1253
Others receiving votes: Rector 5.

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ESPN ARKANSAS 99.5 IN FAYETTEVILLE, 95.3 IN THE RIVER VALLEY, 96.3 IN HOT SPRINGS, 104.3 IN HARRISON-MOUNTAIN HOME.