Arkansas rallies to beat Grambling State in North Little Rock

Dickey-Stephens Park is shown during a game between Arkansas and Grambling State on Tuesday, April 10, 2018, in North Little Rock.

Arkansas 7, Grambling State 6 - Final

Matt Cronin lit up the radar gun in the ninth inning, consistently hitting 93-95 mph. He retired all three batters he faced on a strikeout and two groundouts.

Ace Felder grounded out to Carson Shaddy to end a 10-pitch at-bat and give Cronin his second out. Cronin struck out Marshawn Taylor on a 95 mph fastball to end the game.

The Razorbacks ended up with 10 hits after struggling most of the game offensively. Arkansas scored six of its eight runs over the final two innings.

The Razorbacks will play again Thursday against South Carolina at Baum Stadium.

Arkansas 7, Grambling State 6 - End 8th Inning

Evan Lee grounded out to the second baseman on the shift to end the eighth inning.

Matt Cronin is in the game looking for his seventh save. The Tigers will send their 9, 1 and 2 hitters to the plate in the ninth.

Arkansas 7, Grambling State 6 - Bottom 8th Inning

Eric Cole's two-out, two-run single has given the Razorbacks the lead. Carson Shaddy scored from first and scored just under the tag of catcher Drexler Maccay.

There are still most of the 8,470 announced attendance here and they went nuts on the score. Even Dave Van Horn ran out of the dugout and gave a fist pump.

Grambling State 6, Arkansas 5 - Bottom 8th Inning

Grant Koch struck out and Jax Biggers hit a sac fly to right field that scored Jordan McFarland. Eric Cole is at the plate with runners on the corners and two outs.

Grambling State 6, Arkansas 4 - Bottom 8th Inning

Casey Martin singled and Carson Shaddy drew a full-count walk and the Razorbacks have the bases loaded with no outs in the inning. Grant Koch will hit after a pitching change.

The Razorbacks are outhitting Grambling 9-8. After Koch bats, Arkansas will go back to the top of the order with Jax Biggers.

Grambling State 6, Arkansas 4 - Bottom 8th Inning

Dominic Fletcher led off the eighth with a double and scored on Jordan McFarland's single in the next at-bat. The Hogs have the tying run at the plate with no outs.

Grambling State 6, Arkansas 3 - Top 8th Inning

Drexler Maccay just worked an eight-pitch at-bat before he got the pitch he wanted, a 3-2 breaking ball from Jackson Rutledge that he took the other way to right field. The double scored two runners and has given Grambling some breathing room.

There are plenty of fans heading for the exits.

Grambling State 4, Arkansas 3 - Top 8th Inning

The Tigers have regained the lead. Dominic Fletcher made a diving catch on a line drive by Isaiah Torres, but it allowed the run to come home from third.

Kole Ramage has since given up another hit, putting the Tigers at first and second with two outs. He is being replaced by Jackson Rutledge.

Arkansas 3, Grambling State 3 - Top 8th Inning

Kole Ramage is in a tight spot after Grambling State has tied the game again and is in position to regain the lead. Ramage has given up two singles in the inning and hit a batter - a call Arkansas' players and coaches protested. Remember there is no replay available in this game.

Rafael Ramirez III's single through the hole between first and second tied the game. Now the Tigers have runners on the corners with one out.

Arkansas 3, Grambling State 2 - End 7th Inning

The Razorbacks have their first lead. Evan Lee hit a slow roller to the pitcher, Daniel Wilson, but Wilson couldn't field the ball cleanly, allowing Lee to reach and Hunter Wilson to score.

Arkansas pretty much has its entire starting group in now, defensively. Jordan McFarland is at first, Carson Shaddy is at second, Casey Martin is at third and Grant Koch is at catcher. None of the four started the game.

Kole Ramage, who has four strikeouts in two innings, is coming back for the eighth.

Arkansas 2, Grambling State 2 - Bottom 7th Inning

Daniel Wilson just threw a wild pitch and Carson Shaddy scored from third base. Hunter Wilson advanced to second and there still are not any outs.

Grambling State 2, Arkansas 1 - Bottom 7th Inning

The Razorbacks have something brewing in the seventh. Carson Shaddy pinch-hit and reached on a five-pitch walk, then went to third on a hit-and-run single by Hunter Wilson. Now the top of the order is up with runners on the corners and no outs.

Grambling State 2, Arkansas 1 - End 6th Inning

Arkansas stranded two in the bottom of the sixth after Dominic Fletcher singled and Jared Gates walked with two outs. Casey Martin nearly turned on a 0-1 pitch for a home run, but it hooked foul. He eventually flied out to right-center, stranding the fifth and sixth runners of the game for Arkansas.

Kole Ramage pitched well in the top of the sixth. His cutter looked good and caused several swing throughs by the Tigers. Ramage struck out three and worked around a two-out walk.

Grambling State 2, Arkansas 1 - Middle 5th Inning

The Tigers have regained the lead on two hits in the fifth. Drexler Maccay singled to lead off the inning, advanced on Caleb Bolden's wild pitch and scored when leadoff hitter Ace Felder singled with two outs.

Bolden has not been bad for Arkansas, but is behind because he isn't getting run support. He has allowed 2 runs on 4 hits. He has struck out 6 and walked 2.

The Razorbacks have several backups in the starting lineup tonight. It will be interesting to see if some every day starters begin to get in the game. We've already seen Casey Martin get in as a pinch-hitter and replace Jack Kenley at third base.

Arkansas 1, Grambling State 1 - End 4th Inning

Evan Lee, Heston Kjerstad and Dominic Fletcher all singled consecutively to lead off the fourth. Fletcher's hit scored Lee and gave the Razorbacks their first run.

Arkansas is outhitting Grambling 4-2, but couldn't come through with a hit with Kjerstad at third. The inning ended when Casey Opitz grounded out to the pitcher.

Grambling State 1, Arkansas 0 - End 3rd Inning

The Razorbacks always seem to struggle when they come to Dickey-Stephens and it appears that is the case again tonight. Arkansas has just one hit against a Grambling staff with an ERA over 7.

Caleb Bolden has settled down since the first inning. He has retired eight of the last nine batters he has faced.

Grambling State 1, Arkansas 0 - End 2nd Inning

Jack Kenley drew a two-out walk, but was stranded when Casey Opitz flied out to center field in the second. Grambling's pitcher, Elijah Saunders, is unlike anything the Razorbacks have seen this year. His velocity is topping out in the mid 80s and it looks like the Arkansas hitters are having a tough time adjusting to pitches that are slow.

Grambling State 1, Arkansas 0 - End 1st Inning

It looked like Arkansas would get on the board in the first as well after Jax Biggers led off with a double and Eric Cole followed with a walk, but Evan Lee lined into a double play and Heston Kjerstad flied out to right field.

Grambling State 1, Arkansas 0 - Middle 1st Inning

Caleb Bolden gave up a couple of one-out singles in the first inning and Grambling has the early lead. Marshawn Taylor stole second and scored on a hit by Richard Ortiz.

The shadows are really tough on the outfielders right now and probably will continue to be for another inning or two. Balls hit to left field could be especially difficult for the defenders.

Pregame

It is Arkansas' annual night in North Little Rock. The ballpark should be near full, although there were a few more tickets for sale prior to the game than in years past. This is the ninth consecutive season the Razorbacks have played here.

Caleb Bolden is going to be the starting pitcher for Arkansas tonight. He is coming off a great seven-inning outing last week against Louisiana-Monroe.

The Razorbacks' starting lineup has several changes from the weekends. Evan Lee, from the Little Rock suburb of Bryant, is the starting designated hitter. Jared Gates (first base), Jack Kenley (third base), Casey Optiz (catcher) and Hunter Wilson (second base) also are starting tonight.

On the mound for Grambling State is right-hander Elijah Saunders (8.41 ERA). The Tigers are 16-16 overall and 0-5 all-time against Arkansas.

Dickey-Stephens Park is quite a bit different than Baum Stadium. It is 330 and 331 feet down the lines, and there is a no man's land to left-center, where I'm told it extends to 415 feet. The asymmetrical wall curves back in at center field and 400 feet to dead-away center.