Razorback sophomore pitcher Mark Adamiak (#38) from Shawnee, KS throws a strike against Grambling Tuesday evening at Baum-Walker Stadium in Fayetteville, AR.
FAYETTEVILLE - With a run-rule invoking, game ending grand slam, Arkansas center fielder Braydon Webb got his first hit in 24 season at bats to close the Razorbacks’ 14-1 rout over the Grambling State Tigers, 14-1 Tuesday night at Baum-Walker Stadium.
Webb’s slam capped a 7-run game-ending eighth inning.
“I was really happy for him,” Arkansas Coach Dave Van Horn said. “He’s kept a really good attitude and had a great BP today. He’s really strong and has really good bat speed. Sometimes it doesn’t matter if you get a hit off a guy throwing 92 or 62. You just need to get a hit and your mind changes a little bit.”
Van Horn said Webb is Arkansas’ best defensive center fielder and fielded a gem to “make a hard one look easy,” during Tuesday’s game.
Grambling State, 5-11 of the SWAC (Southwestern Athletic Conference) took a 1-0 lead with two hits in the first off Arkansas winning starter Mark Adamiak.
That would be it. Adamiak threw hitless ball the second through the fourth innings and struck out six.
Razorbacks relievers Elijah Trest and Zebulon Vermillion threw a hitless inning each, and Gabe Starks threw two hitless innings. The Razorbacks relievers combined for seven strikeouts vs. zero walks.
A contrast to six Tigers walking 10 and hitting a batter.
“Our pitchers kind of took over the game,” Van Horn said.
“These midweek games can get crazy if you don’t throw the ball over the plate. That’s what happened to Grambling. They walked 10, hit a batter or two and we put together a couple of pretty good innings. Tomorrow’s game will be tighter and a little better played.”
The walks allowed the Razorbacks to maximize eight hits.
Freshman first baseman Peyton Stovall, playing his natural second base with All-American second baseman Robert Moore getting a day off went 3 for 4 with two RBI, while regular catcher Michael Turner DH’d and hit a home run and logged three RBI.
Brady Slavens knocked in two. Backup catcher Dylan Leach, starting Tuesday and set to start Wednesday against Grambling State to keep Turner fresh behind the plate for the SEC season opening series against Kentucky this weekend at Baum-Walker, and Greenbrier’s Cayden Wallace each knocked in run.
Arkansas, 12-3, and Grambling State conclude their 2-game series at 4 p.m. Wednesday.
Freshman Austin Ledbetter of Bryant will make his second Arkansas start.
“We’ll let him roll awhile,” Van Horn said. “He could be a long reliever on the weekend (against Kentucky) but we’ll see how it goes. We will leave him in there awhile if we can.”
Arkansas and Kentucky will play at 6:30 Friday night, 6:30 Saturday night and noon Sunday.
Razorback freshman second baseman Peyton Stovall (#10) from Haughton, LA charges the ball and throws to first for a put-out against Grambling Tuesday evening at Baum-Walker Stadium in Fayetteville, AR.
Razorback freshman first baseman Kendall Diggs (#17) from Olathe, KS attempts a pick-off tag after the catch against Grambling Tuesday evening at Baum-Walker Stadium in Fayetteville, AR
Razorback senior center fielder Braydon Webb (#24) from McKinney, TX smashes a grand slam to right field to end the game against Grambling Tuesday evening at Baum-Walker Stadium in Fayetteville, AR.
Razorback senior designated hitter Michael Turner (#12) from Warren, OH celebrates his home run after rounding third against Grambling Tuesday evening at Baum-Walker Stadium in Fayetteville, AR.
Razorback sophomore pitcher Gabriel Starks (#55) from Pine Bluff, AR throws a breaking ball for a strike against Grambling Tuesday evening at Baum-Walker Stadium in Fayetteville, AR.