SPRINGDALE -- Corpus Christi took control from the outset against Northwest Arkansas on Wednesday.
The Hooks scored five runs in the first inning and went on to defeat the Naturals 9-3 before a crowd of 2,392 at Arvest Ballpark. Brandon Meredith hit a three-run home in the first inning when Corpus Christi collected five hits and sent nine batters to the plate.
Corpus Christi 9, Northwest Arkansas 3
Corpus Christi^510^300^000^—^9^10^1
Northwest Arkansas^200^001^000^—3^7^2
Corpus Christi 9, Northwest Arkansas Naturals 3
Corpus Christi^AB^R^H^RBI^BB^SO^LOB^AVG
Kemp, 2B^4^1^1^0^1^0^1^.321
Mier, SS^5^1^1^1^0^2^1^.259
Aplin, CF^4^3^2^0^1^0^0^.450
White, 3B^5^1^2^2^0^2^2^.310
Gregor, 1B^4^2^1^2^0^0^2^.280
Meredith, DH^3^1^1^3^1^2^0^.299
Vasquez, D, LF^4^0^0^0^0^2^1^.000
Pena, R, C^4^0^1^0^0^1^1^.278
Heras, RF^4^0^1^0^0^0^2^.276
Totals^37^9^10^8^3^9^10^
2B: White (3, Almonte), Aplin (1, Murray). HR: Meredith (4, 1st inning off Almonte, 2 on, 1 out), Gregor (1, 4th inning off Murray, 1 on, 2 out).
TB: Mier; Gregor 4; Pena, R; Meredith 4; Aplin 3; White 3; Kemp; Heras.
RBI: Mier (25), Meredith 3 (21), White 2 (17), Gregor 2 (19). Team LOB: 4. BASERUNNING SB: Kemp (12, 2nd base off Almonte/Gibbs), Mier (4, 3rd base off Almonte/Gibbs), Aplin (8, 2nd base off Almonte/Gibbs), Vasquez, D (1, 2nd base off Almonte/Gibbs).
E: Mier (7, fielding).
NW Arkansas^AB^R^H^RBI^BB^SO^LOB^AVG
Franco, DH^5^0^1^0^0^0^1^.318
Mondesi, SS^5^1^1^0^0^2^2^.233
Bonifacio, J, RF^5^1^1^1^0^1^2^.236
Fuenmayor, 1B^4^1^2^0^0^0^0^.365
Dozier, 3B^3^0^0^1^1^1^2^.223
Bianucci, LF^4^0^2^1^0^1^2^.303
Gibbs, C^2^0^0^0^2^0^2^.326
Diekroeger, 2B^4^0^0^0^0^1^7^.400
Gore, CF^3^0^0^0^1^0^2^.276
Totals^35^3^7^3^4^6^20^
2B: Mondesi (2, Westwood), Bonifacio, J (9, Westwood), Fuenmayor (13, West). Team OB: 9. BASERUNNING SB: Gore (18, 2nd base off Westwood/Pena, R
E: Almonte (1, pickoff), Fuenmayor (4, fielding).
DP: (Mondesi-Diekroeger-Fuenmayor).
Corpus Christi^IP^H^R^ER^BB^SO^HR^ERA
Westwood (W, 2-2)^5.0^4^2^2^2^4^0^4.82
West (S, 1)^4.0^3^1^1^2^2^0^3.03
NW Arkansas^IP^H^R^ER^BB^SO^HR^ERA
Almonte (L, 4-2)^3.0^6^6^5^2^4^1^3.83
Murray^4.0^3^3^3^1^4^1^4.79
Williams, A^2.0^1^0^0^0^1^0^5.93
WP: Westwood.
Umpires: HP: Matthew Czajak. 1B: Lee Meyers. 3B: Nestor Ceja.
T: 2:41.
Att: 2,392.
Conrad Gregor extended the lead to 9-2 in the fourth inning when he hit a two-run home run off Naturals reliever Matt Murray.
Northwest Arkansas (29-15) will try to salvage a win today in the three-game series between the division leaders in the Texas League. The Hooks (30-15) opened play with a 4-1 win over the Naturals on Tuesday.
Kyle Westwood (2-2) overcame a shaky start to earn the victory over Miguel Almonte (4-2), who allowed six hits and six runs in three innings. Westwood pitched five innings and did not allow a hit after the Naturals reached him for two runs on four hits in the first inning.
"That's a good team, and they jumped on us," Northwest Arkansas manager Vance Wilson said. "They were aggressive and got on (Almonte's) fastball early."
Northwest Arkansas contributed to its first-inning deficit with a throwing error by Almonte and a fielding error by Balbino Fuenmayor. The Naturals scored two runs in the bottom of the first inning and left the bases loaded when Kenny Dickroeger grounded into a forceout at second. Raul Mondesi got the Naturals started with a one-out double after hitting his third home run in Tuesday's loss to the Hooks.
The Naturals were held without another hit until the sixth inning when Fuenmayor doubled and scored on a single by Mike Bianucci.
Short Hops
• Andrew Aplin foiled Northwest Arkansas' defensive strategy in the fourth inning when the Hooks scored three runs. The Naturals shifted and left shortstop Raul Mondesi as the only fielded on the left side against Aplin, a left-handed hitter. But Aplin hit an opposite-field double and scored to give the Hooks a 7-2 lead.
• Brett Eibner, a former Naturals and Arkansas Razorback outfielder, hit a two-run home run Wednesday in Omaha's 5-2 victory over Tacoma. The home run was the sixth of the year for Eibner, who recently came off the disabled list for the Tripe A Storm Chasers.
Extra Bases: Corpus Christi and Northwest Arkansas combined for seven runs and nine hits in the first inning after the teams combined for five runs and 14 hits in nine innings on Tuesday. ... The Naturals fell to 8-2 in games with Almonte starting on the mound. ... Angel Franco remained in the leadoff spot while serving as the designated hitter for the Naturals. Kenny Dickroeger started at second base and batted eighth in the order.
On Deck: The series continues today when Northwest Arkansas sends right-hander J.C. Sulbaran (3-3, 4.03 ERA) to the mound against Corpus Christi right-hander Mark Appel (3-0, 6.03 ERA).
Promotions: Buck Night and Thirsty Thursday
On The Air: KQSM 92.1 FM, The Ticket
On The Web: www.naturals.com
Sports on 05/28/2015