NORTH LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Second-ranked Arkansas (27-3) scored four in the third inning to take control and defeat Grambling (10-17), 7-4, Tuesday night in front of a crowd of 9,312 at CHI St. Vincent Field at Dickey-Stephens Park.
With the win, the Hogs improved to 12-2 all-time inside the home of the Arkansas Travelers, the Double-A affiliate of the Seattle Mariners. Arkansas also improved to 3-0 against Grambling at CHI St. Vincent Field at Dickey-Stephens Park.
Making his first collegiate start on the mound, sophomore right-hander Tate McGuire fired a career-long four innings of one-run ball with a career-high four strikeouts to earn his first career win and lead Arkansas to its midweek victory over Grambling.
He set the tone by limiting the Tigers to one run on one hit and two walks in Tuesday night’s outing.
Brent Iredale’s sacrifice fly in the first gave the Razorbacks an early 1-0 lead. Grambling tied the game at one in the top of the third, but Arkansas punched right back, responding with four runs in the bottom half of the frame to go up 5-1.
The Hogs’ four-run third inning began with Charles Davalan’s leadoff triple down the right field line. Wehiwa Aloy’s RBI single scored Davalan before Kuhio Aloy and Brent Iredale reached safely on a hit batsman and walk, respectively.
With the bases loaded and nobody out, Carson Boles stepped up to the plate and hammered a two-run single to left, extending Arkansas’ advantage to 4-1. Boles would eventually come around to score on a wild pitch with two outs.
Davalan (2-for-5, 2 R, 3B), Wehiwa Aloy (2-for-3, 3 R, RBI, 2 BB) and Kuhio Aloy (2-for-4, R, RBI) each finished with multi-hit games to lead the Razorback offense. Boles, meanwhile, tallied a team-leading and career-high three RBI in the win.
In relief of McGuire, Colin Fisher (1.0 IP, 1 R), Dylan Carter (2.0 IP, 2 R, 2 SO) and Cole Gibler (2.0 IP, 5 SO) combined for five innings of three-run ball with seven strikeouts to lock down Arkansas’ 7-4 win against Grambling.
Gibler closed out the ballgame, striking out the side in the top half of the ninth to earn his first collegiate save.
Up next, Arkansas, 8-1 in league action, returns to SEC play this weekend against Missouri (10-17, 0-9 SEC).
First pitch in the series opener between the Hogs and Tigers at Baum-Walker Stadium is 7 p.m. Friday, April 4, on SEC Network.
Information from Arkansas Communications is included in this story.
