SPRINGDALE -- Arkansas needed only one big inning Tuesday night to take down Northwest Arkansas.
The Travelers scored five runs in the third inning and defeated the Naturals 5-2 before a crowd of 2,920 at Arvest Ballpark. Arkansas collected five hits in the inning off Matt Murray (5-2), who contributed to the rally with a bases-loaded walk and a hit batsman with the bases full.
Today’s game
ARKANSAS AT NW ARKANSAS
WHEN 7:05 p.m.
WHERE Arvest Ballpark, Springdale
RADIO KARN-AM, 920, in central Arkansas; KFAY-AM, 1030, in Northwest Arkansas
WEBSITE travs.com, nwanaturals.com
PITCHERS Travs: Albert Suarez (RHP, 8-7, 3.44 ERA); Naturals: Brooks Pounders (RHP, 0-1, 3.86)
TICKETS $12 super premium, $10 premium, $8 reserved, $7 grass berm
PROMOTIONS Reserved tickets for groups of 20 or more are half price when purchased in advance.
THE WEEK AHEAD
TODAY at NW Arkansas, 7:05 p.m.
THURSDAY at Springfield, 7:10 p.m.
FRIDAY at Springfield, 7:10 p.m.
SATURDAY at Springfield, 6:10 p.m.
SUNDAY at Springfield, 6:10 p.m.
MONDAY off
TUESDAY Corpus Christi, 7:10 p.m.
Kyle McGowin (8-7) earned the victory by holding the Naturals to 2 runs and 7 hits over 5 innings.
Brian Hernandez went 4 for 4 with 2 doubles and 2 RBI for the Travelers (23-16), who outhit the Naturals 11-10. Ramon Torres had a two-run home run and Raul Mondesi a triple for Northwest Arkansas (14-24).
Both teams put their first two runners on base in the third inning. Drew Maggi was credited with an infield single on a bunt to load the bases for Arkansas, which used a walk and a hit batter to force in two runs. Blake Gailen followed with a sacrifice fly before Hernandez capped the rally with a two-run double.
"We took advantage of some things and executed in that inning," Arkansas Manager Bill Richardson said. "It's the other [scoreless] innings I'm worried about."
Northwest Arkansas put runners in scoring position with one out in the third, but McGowin worked out of the jam with consecutive strikeouts against Mondesi and Lane Adams. Northwest Arkansas also put two runners on in the seventh and ninth innings but did not score.
The Naturals left 11 men on base to eight for the Travelers.
"We didn't execute defensively," Northwest Arkansas Manager Vance Wilson said. "Offensively, we left three guys on third base and couldn't get the big hit when we needed it."
Sports on 08/05/2015