By Harold McIlvain II
FAYETTEVILLE―After being down by as much as 9-1 in the fifth inning, Grambling State Tigers fought back and never gave up against the Kansas State Wildcats during a 9-8- eliminating loss.
After being scoreless at the plate for five straight innings and allowing at least a run in each inning, the Tigers gunned down a runner at home to end the sixth and then put the first run on the board in the bottom of the inning.
“The turning point in the game was when our runner was thrown out at the plate,” Wildcat head coach Brad Hill said. “They then got furious at the plate and did whatever they could to get the ball in play.”
Grambling State then put together a four-run rally in the seventh, scored two more in the eight and ended the inning with the tying runner on second base down by one.
“They got on a roll,” Hill said. “Momentum swings is what it is all about. They started answering with some runs, but we never answered back. From the sixth inning on, it was on their side.”
Despite being on the road, the Tigers got plenty of support later innings of the game as fans cheered on the team fighting for a come-from-behind win, as they even modified an Arkansas school cheer.
“Everybody loves an underdog,” Grambling State head coach James Cooper said. “We just wanted to come away with a win. We noticed how they changed the pig sooie chant into a Grambling chant. We appreciated the hospitality.”
A one-out hit in the ninth made things interesting, but the Wildcats shutdown the Grambling State bats in the ninth, eliminating the Tigers while setting up a game at 2:05 p.m. Sunday against the loser of the Washington State and Arkansas game.
FAYETTEVILLE REGIONAL SCHEDULE
Friday, June 4
Game 1 – Arkansas 19, Grambling State 7
Game 2 – Washington State 8, Kansas State 6
Saturday, June 5
Game 3 – Kansas State 9, Grambling State 8
Game 4 – Arkansas vs. Washington State – 7:05 p.m.
Sunday, June 6
Game 5 – Winner Game 3 vs. Loser Game 4 – 2:05 p.m.
Game 6 – Winner Game 4 vs. Winner Game 5 – 7:05 p.m.
Monday, June 7 (if necessary)
Game 7 – Both teams from previous game – 7:05 p.m.
Tags: Arkansas, Arkansas Razorbacks, baseball, Razorbacks
