NATURALS RALLY FALLS SHORT IN FIFTH STRAIGHT LOSS TO SPRINGFIELD

SPRINGDALE, AR – The Northwest Arkansas Naturals scored six unanswered runs late in the game, but could not come back from the Springfield Cardinals' offensive explosion, dropping the fifth straight game of the series, 13-10.

Offensively, the Naturals tied their single-game high this week with 11 hits, scoring more runs than the previous three games combined.

After Springfield scored four times in the top of the second, Northwest Arkansas responded with three runs in the bottom half, a two-run home run from John Rave and a sacrifice fly from Brhet Bewley.

First baseman Robbie Glendinning came a triple shy of the cycle in the loss, going 3-for-4 with his seventh home run of the season to lead off the fourth inning and two runs batted in overall.

After Glendinning's fourth inning homer, the Cardinals scored four runs in the sixth and seventh innings, jumping out to a nine-run lead but the game was far from over.

The Naturals responded to the Cardinals' four runs with four of their own, loading the bases on singles from Sebastian Rivero, Ryan Grotjohn and Nick Loftin. Tucker Bradley singled in Rivero and Grotjohn, Loftin scored on a wild pitch and Bradley scored on an RBI single from Glendinning.

In the eighth, the Naturals inched to runs closer, as Seuly Matias led off the inning with a single and Rivero drilled a two-run shot to left field, the final two runs of the night.

While starter Noah Murdock struggled, allowing five runs over 2.1 innings, the first arm out of the bullpen, Zack Phillips, was a bright spot. Phillips threw 2.2 scoreless innings, facing eight batters and recording eight outs, with only one walk on his line.

Andres Sotillet entered the game in the eighth and offered 2.0 scoreless innings as well, giving the Naturals a chance to complete the comeback.

Northwest Arkansas will try to avoid the first six-game sweep in franchise history Sunday afternoon, as left-hander Anthony Veneziano makes his 13th start of the year, with a 2:05 p.m. CT first pitch from Arvest Ballpark.