COMEBACK FALLS SHORT AS NATURALS LOSE IN SPRINGFIELD 14-11

Springfield, MO ­– After a near four-hour game on Opening Night, the Northwest Arkansas Naturals played another near four-hour barnburner Saturday, dropping the second game of the weekend series to the Springfield Cardinals 14-11, with a late rally falling just a bit short.

Things looked bleak early, as Springfield pounced for 10 runs across the first three innings and jumped out to a 10-0 lead. The Naturals inched back and scored runs in each of the following three innings, with a sacrifice fly from Nate Eaton in the fourth, an RBI single from Seuly Matias in the fifth and fielder’s choice off the bat of John Rave in the sixth.

The Cardinals responded to Northwest Arkansas’ three runs with three of their own in the bottom of the sixth to balloon the lead back to 10 runs and a 13-3 score. After a scoreless seventh, the Naturals exploded in the eighth as 10 batters came to the plate and five runs scored to cut the deficit to 13-8.

Rave singled in a run and Northwest Arkansas took advantage of a Springfield error with two outs to rally and add four more. Nick Loftin reached on the error that scored Logan Porter, then Rave crossed home on a wild pitch. Michael Massey and Matias delivered back-to-back singles and after a Springfield run in the eighth, the Naturals piled on more in the ninth.

Rave brought home his third run of the game, with another fielder’s choice to start the rally back up. Maikel Garcia singled home Eaton and Loftin brought Rave home on a sacrifice fly. While the tying run stood on deck and the Naturals trailed by just three runs, the comeback fell short and the Cardinals took the season’s second game 14-11.

Eight of the nine Naturals starters recorded hits, and eight scored runs with seven players both collecting a hit and scoring a run. The hitters also collected seven walks, two from each Garcia and Robbie Glendinning and three from Porter.

Northwest Arkansas pitchers struggled, as starter Anthony Veneziano couldn’t work out of the first inning and in total, manger Chris Widger used five arms to get through the game. The final pitcher of the night, however, was a position player. Catcher Tyler Cropley emerged from the bullpen after Springfield scored in the eighth and used seven pitches to collect two groundouts and send the game to the ninth, with a 0.00 ERA in his first pitching appearance.

Left-hander Angel Zerpa will pitch the rubber match of the weekend series in Springfield on Sunday, with a 1:35 p.m. CT first pitch at Hammons Field.