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Razorbacks dig out of early hole to finally subdue Grambling

After flat start, Hogs slowly come back, getting past pesky Tigers with no panic on home opener on Tuesday.

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FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — No. 9 Arkansas (3-1) overcame a five-run deficit and survived a scare against SWAC foe Grambling (1-3), pulling out a 9-7 win on Tuesday afternoon in a rare midweek home opener at Baum-Walker Stadium.

Playing at home for the first time in 282 days, the Razorbacks came out flat. Grambling scored two in the first, one in the third and three more in the fourth, cracking open a 6-1 lead before Arkansas could begin to find its rhythm offensively.

The Hogs showed signs of life in the bottom of the fourth, thanks to leadoff single by Kendall Diggs. Diggs advanced to second on a wild pitch before Jace Bohrofen’s double to right center brought him home, and Bohrofen would later score on Parker Rowland’s groundout as Arkansas started to trim its deficit.

Trailing by four in the fifth, the Razorbacks scored runs on reigning SEC Player of the Week Jared Wegner’s RBI single and Brady Slavens’ RBI double to make it a two-run game.

Tavian Josenberger, who went 2-for-2 with two runs scored, two runs batted in and two walks, kept the pressure on in the sixth with his RBI double to cut the gap to one.

The Hogs would even the ballgame at seven apiece in the bottom of the seventh, when Bohrofen’s sacrifice fly to center brought home Wegner from third. The hard-earned comeback was completed in the eighth with Josenberger’s go-ahead RBI sacrifice fly followed by Stovall’s RBI sacrifice fly, putting Arkansas up, 9-7, for good.

Arkansas totaled four sacrifice flies, their most since recording four against Mississippi Valley State in a 20-0 win on Feb. 24, 2016. Wegner, Bohrofen, Josenberger and Stovall each picked up an RBI sacrifice fly in Tuesday’s victory.

On the mound, right-handers Koty Frank (2.2 IP, 3 SO) and Brady Tygart (2.0 IP, 4 SO) worked together to pitch the final 4.2 innings of the game. The duo silenced Grambling, limiting the Tigers to just two hits while combining for seven strikeouts as Tygart earned his first win of the season.

Their strong performances out of the bullpen were a stark contrast from the work of the Razorbacks’ first three pitchers of the game, who combined to allow seven runs on 11 hits and four walks.

The Hogs, who had not played a midweek home opener since 2003, are now 2-0 in such games under Dave Van Horn. That season, Arkansas hosted Creighton on a Tuesday (Feb. 11, 2003) at what was formerly known as Baum Stadium and defeated the Bluejays, 9-5, in Van Horn’s first game as the Razorback head coach.

Arkansas’ 18-game homestand continues with a three-game set against Eastern Illinois in the first home weekend series of the season. First pitch is set for 2 p.m. Friday, Feb. 24, on SEC Network+.

Information from Arkansas Communications is included in this story.

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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
ESPN+/SECN+
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.