NORTH LITTLE ROCK - Chas McCormick's go-ahead two-run single in the seventh inning Saturday night pushed the Hooks to a 6-3 victory over Arkansas in the series finale at Dickey Stephens Park.Brandon Bielak, making his Double-A debut, ensured the late edge would hold, hurling 4 2/3 innings of shutout relief.
NORTH LITTLE ROCK - Chas McCormick's go-ahead two-run single in the seventh inning Saturday night pushed the Hooks to a 6-3 victory over Arkansas in the series finale at Dickey Stephens Park.
Brandon Bielak, making his Double-A debut, ensured the late edge would hold, hurling 4 2/3 innings of shutout relief.
The Hooks (6-3, 49-49) found themselves in an early hole thanks to Joey Curletta's three-run home run off Forrest Whitley in the first.
Yordan Alvarez made it a two-run game by leading off the second with a line-drive opposite field dinger to left-center.
Whitley righted the ship after a rocky first, retiring 11 of the final 13 men he faced. He struck out the side in a perfect fourth to finish his night.
Bielak struck out five and held the Travs (6-2, 41-37) to three singles from his entry in the fifth through his exit with two away in the ninth.
Arkansas starter Johendí Jiminian set down 13 Hooks in row after escaping a bases-loaded jam in the second.
With the Hooks trailing 3-1 in the sixth, Randy César drew a two-out walk from reliever Stephen Perakslis. Alvarez was next and cracked a double into the left-field corner, chasing Cesar home from first.
Alvarez is hitting .370 with four doubles, five home runs, and 15 RBIs in 11 games since returning from the disabled list.
Corpus Christi broke through for three markers in the seventh against Bryan Bonnell. With the bases loaded, Ryne Birk scampered home on a wild pitch. McCormick was next and laced a base hit up the middle, plating a pair for a 5-3 lead.
Birk opened the ninth by coaxing a walk from Matt Walker. He then went first to third on an Alex De Goti single, and scored on a groundout by Carmen Benedetti.
Erasmo Pinales earned the save, dispatching the only man he faced in the ninth. Benedetti prevented the tying run from coming to the plate by making a diving catch in right-center for the final out.
The Hooks head to Springdale, Ark., for a three-game series with the Naturals. Corbin Martin (4-1, 2.72) is slated to face Northwest Arkansas lefty Emilio Ogando (4-4, 6.54) in Sunday's opener. First pitch 4:05.
