SPRINGDALE -- Northwest Arkansas paired good pitching with timely hitting to snap a six-game losing streak Thursday night.
The Naturals (4-9) got a big inning early and three pitchers combined to do the rest in a 5-2 win over Tulsa in front of 3,625 at Arvest Ballpark.
Northwest Arkansas 5, Tulsa 2
Tulsa^000^110^00^—^2^7^0
Northwest Arkansas^005^000^00x^—^5^6^0
Tulsa^AB^R^H^RBI^BB^SO^LOB^AVG
Maggi, 3B^4^1^2^0^0^1^0^.350
Calhoun, DH^4^0^0^0^0^1^2^.216
Farmer, C^4^0^1^1^0^0^0^.359
Scavuzzo, LF^3^0^0^0^1^0^1^.306
Verdugo, CF^4^0^1^0^0^0^2^.255
Anderson, La, 1B^3^1^1^1^0^2^1^.300
Drake, RF^3^0^1^0^0^1^0^.108
Arruebarrena, SS^3^0^1^0^0^1^2^.176
Trinkwon, 2B^3^0^0^0^0^1^1^.152
Totals^31^2^7^2^1^7^9^
BATTING
2B: Farmer (4). HR: Anderson, La (2). RISP: 1-for-4. LOB: 3. SB: Maggi (2).
NW Arkansas^AB^R^H^RBI^BB^SO^LOB^AVG
Torres, Ra, 2B^2^1^0^0^2^1^0^.217
Mondesi, SS^3^1^0^0^1^1^1^.234
Starling, CF^3^1^1^1^1^2^0^.179
Dozier, 3B^4^1^2^2^0^0^1^.333
Calixte, RF^3^1^1^0^1^0^1^.238
Evans, C^4^0^1^2^0^2^2^.219
Ramos, M, 1B^4^0^1^0^0^0^3^.292
Schwindel, DH^3^0^0^0^0^0^3^.267
Garcia, C, LF^3^0^0^0^0^0^1^.171
Totals^29^5^6^5^5^6^12^
BATTING
2B: Calixte (3); Evans (); Dozier (). RISP: 3-for-11. LOB: 5. SB: Starling (4); Dozier (3); Calixte (6). CS: Torres, Ra (1).
Tulsa^IP^H^R^ER^BB^SO^HR^ERA
Gonzalez, Fe (L, 0-3)^2.1^4^5^5^5^0^0^11.12
Rogers^2.2^0^0^0^0^2^0^3.86
Cash^2.0^1^0^0^0^3^0^4.32
Thayer^1.0^1^0^0^0^1^0^2.25
NW Arkansas^IP^H^R^ER^BB^SO^HR^ERA
Binford (W, 1-2)^5.0^4^2^2^0^4^1^9.64
Stout (H, 1)^3.0^3^0^0^0^3^0^1.23
McCarthy (S, 1)^1.0^0^0^0^1^0^0^5.40
Pitches-strikes: Gonzalez, Fe 62-31; Rogers 28-18; Cash 31-20; Thayer 15-11; Binford 45-32; Stout 39-28; McCarthy 7-3.
Umpires: HP: Clayton Hamm. 1B: Reid Gibbs. 3B: Jon Felczak.
T: 2:15. Att: 3,625.
Northwest Arkansas did all its damage in the third inning. Hunter Dozier had a two-run single and Zane Evans added a two-run double to highlight the five-run inning. Bubba Starling added a run-scoring single.
Dozier, who finished 2 for 4 with a double, had a particularly impressive at-bat in the big third inning as he took a pitch to right field to beat a defensive shift with three Drillers infielders positioned on the left side.
"The most impressive thing about Dozier is if you look at his numbers last year, he's so pull off the ball," Wilson said. "Now, he's really changed what he's doing, his approach. Great for him being able to take advantage."
Northwest Arkansas starter Christian Binford (1-2) was solid for the first five innings, allowing just two runs on four hits. He struck out four and did not walk a batter, but Wilson decided to take him out after just 45 piches.
Wilson said it was about making sure the 6-foot-6 right-hander ended on a good note, after struggling in his first two starts of the season.
"Really keeping the ball down and keeping it on the edges is big for Bin," Wilson said. "When he tries to get a lot of movement on his ball, it's up over the heart of the plate. He pitched in good tonight and stayed in.
"You take a kid that cares as much as he does, he's been struggling. He had plenty of pitches left. But to be able to have a start like that to build on was huge for him."
Relievers Eric Stout and Kevin McCarthy combined for four scoreless for another positive for the Naturals. The bullpen has also been a sore spot lately as Northwest Arkansas lost three one-run games at Midland, including two where big leads got away.
It was big for the left-hander Stout to give the Naturals three scoreless innings behind Binford, Wilson said.
"You get a young kid like Stout, who kinda snuck in here and made this team," Wilson said. "More than anything he kept the ball down and they couldn't do any damage. That was big for us."
Short Hops:
• Northwest Arkansas stole three more bases in Thursday's win, pushing its Texas-League leading total to 28.
• Tulsa starting pitcher Felipe Gonzalez struggled throwing strikes and Northwest Arkansas made him pay. He walked five in 2.1 innings, allowing five runs on four hits. The right-hander threw just 31 out of 62 pitches for strikes.
On Deck: The Naturals continue their four-game series against Tulsa. Northwest Arkansas sends Jake Junis (0-1 6.00 ERA) against Scott Barlow (0-1 0.93 ERA).
Today's Promotion: First responders throughout Northwest Arkansas will be honored for their dedication and they will receive 25 percent off items in the Naturals team store. ... There will also be a postgame fireworks show.
On The Air: KQSM-FM 92.1
On The Web: www.nwanaturals.com
Sports on 04/22/2016