BACK FROM BREAK, NATURALS DROP SERIES OPENER TO SPRINGFIELD

SPRINGDALE, AR – The Northwest Arkansas Naturals and Springfield Cardinals traded leads early, but a surge in the middle and late innings pushed the Cardinals ahead as the Naturals dropped the series opener, 11-4.

At the top of the order, shortstop Maikel Garcia scored three of Northwest Arkansas' four runs, as he singled and scored in the first, doubled and scored in the third, then walked and scored in the seventh.

After Garcia dashed home on a wild pitch in the first, Springfield leapt ahead in the second inning, then the Naturals took the lead back in the third on a two-run single from Tucker Bradley. Northwest Arkansas stayed ahead until the fifth, when the Cardinals tied the game on a single and error, then took the lead for good in the sixth.

Bradley doubled Garcia across in the seventh to counter a run the Cardinals scored in the top half, but a five-run eighth from Springfield was too much for the Naturals to overcome.

Starting pitcher Andrew Hoffmann made his Arvest Ballpark debut, holding the Cardinals to three runs on four hits over the first five innings, but could not make it out of the sixth, throwing 5.2 innings. Hoffmann was charged for five runs on eight hits for his second straight start.

Nathan Webb, Yefri Del Rosario and Walter Pennington combined to throw 3.1 innings of relief, but combined to allow six runs (four earned) on three hits and three walks.

Anthony Veneziano heads to the mound Saturday for the Naturals, with a 6:05 p.m. CT start for Fauxback night at Arvest Ballpark.