Hogs pull out nailbiter win in NLR against Grambling State

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.