GENTRY DRIVES IN TWO, BUT NATURALS FALL TO HOOKS FOR THIRD STRAIGHT NIGHT

CORPUS CHRISTI, TX – The Northwest Arkansas Naturals fell behind in the first inning and could not climb back the rest of the night, falling to the Corpus Christi Hooks 16-3, the team's fourth straight loss and third in a row at Whataburger Field.

Designated hitter Tyler Gentry was responsible for two of the Naturals' three runs, as he first plated Gavin Stupienski in the third inning on a sacrifice fly after Stupienski singled. In the eighth, Gentry connected on his eighth home run of the season, a solo shot for Northwest Arkansas' second run of the night.

After Seuly Matias tripled with one out in the ninth, Stupienski drove him in with a double into the right field corner, the team's third and final run of the game. Stupienski's two hits led the way offensively, while Nick Loftin reached twice with a pair of walks.

Corpus Christi struck starting pitcher Anthony Veneziano for two runs in the first inning, but the left-hander settled down after that, retiring 13 of 16 batters faced from the end of the first through the end of the fifth, with eight total strikeouts in the game.

The Hooks put the first three runners on against Veneziano in the sixth before he exited the game, relieved by Nathan Webb. Webb got a pair of outs quickly, before running into trouble, as Corpus Christi sent seven to the plate with two outs, all scoring for a 10-run sixth inning.

Will Klein took over for Webb in the seventh and pitched a scoreless inning before he and Jonah Dipoto were each charged with a pair of runs in the eighth, on a grand slam from the Hooks.

Northwest Arkansas will attempt to rebound Friday at 7:05 p.m. CT from Whataburger Field.