NATURALS STORM AHEAD IN MIDDLE INNINGS, BEAT SOD POODLES 12-6

SPRINGDALE, AR – After trading runs early Wednesday night, the Northwest Arkansas Naturals stormed past the Amarillo Sod Poodles with a seven-run fourth inning, for a 12-6 win to even the series, tying season highs with both 12 runs and 15 hits.

Both teams scored single runs in the second and third innings, with Seuly Matias tying the game at 1-1 in the second on his third home run of the year, then Tucker Bradley scored on an errant pickoff throw in the third to tie the score again, at 2-2.

After the Sod Poodles scored a run in the top of the fourth, Northwest Arkansas screamed past Amarillo with seven runs. Sebastian Rivero led off the inning with his first homer of the season and first of two on the day, as the first six Naturals hitters of the inning reached. Nate Eaton and Logan Porter singled following Rivero’s homer with Porter driving in Eaton after he stole second base. Bradley singled and Maikel Garcia walked, loading the bases for Nick Loftin.

Loftin singled home Bradley, then Michael Massey brough around Garcia with a sacrifice fly. Matias singled, then Rivero singled and Eaton doubled home Loftin and Matias to cap the seven-run inning and put the Naturals up 9-3.

After Amarillo struck for two in the sixth, Northwest Arkansas countered with three in the bottom half, as Loftin doubled and scored on a John Rave sac fly, while Matias singled and came around on a two-run shot from Rivero’s second home run of the night, putting the score at 12-5 at the time.

Naturals starting pitcher Anthony Veneziano recorded his first win of the year, allowing three runs across 5.0 innings with two strikeouts.

Zack Phillips followed Veneziano with 2.2 innings, allowing three runs but striking out three as well and throwing a 1-2-3 seventh inning.

Jonah Dipoto followed Phillips and got the final four outs, retiring all four batters he faced to stretch his scoreless streak to 7.1 consecutive innings without a run, having now retired the last 10 hitters he’s faced.

Seven different Naturals recorded a hit, with Matias, Rivero and Eaton collecting three each, while Garcia and Loftin each had two-hit nights. Seven players scored runs as well, while seven players drove in at least one run too.

The Naturals look to win their second straight Thursday at 7:05 p.m. CT against Amarillo, with left-hander Angel Zerpa making his fourth start of the year.