DIEGO HERNÁNDEZ AND NATURALS WALK OFF MISSIONS

SPRIGNDALE, AR – The Northwest Arkansas Naturals won in walk-off fashion for the second time this season, as Diego Hernández drove home Jake Means in the bottom of the ninth inning for a 9-8 victory over the San Antonio Missions.

Northwest Arkansas jumped out to a 7-0 lead by the end of the fourth inning, but saw San Antonio slowly chip away.

Tyler Gentry singled home a run in the first, then a two-run double from CJ Alexander capped a four-run second inning. Alexander added another run in the fourth, as he drew a bases-loaded walk that knocked former Naturals pitcher Nolan Watson out of the game, as the Missions’ starter loaded the bases and couldn’t get an out in the fourth.

Robbie Glendinning drove in a run with a sacrifice fly in the fourth to stretch the lead to 7-0, but the game was far from over.

The Missions tagged Naturals starter Andrew Hoffmann for five runs in the fifth inning, though just two were earned. Hoffman cruised through four scoreless innings to start, finishing the night with three strikeouts over 5.0 frames.

San Antonio added another unearned run in the sixth off reliever Zach Haake, who allowed just that unearned run over 2.2 innings, pitching into the eighth with two strikeouts.

John Rave added an insurance run in the eighth with a home run, his second of the week and 13th this season with the Naturals, a solo shot that proved to be crucial insurance in making the score 8-6.

San Antonio scored twice to tie the game in the top of the ninth on the third Northwest Arkansas error of the night, as right-hander Kasey Kalich was unable to secure a four-out save.

Means led off the bottom of the ninth with a walk, advanced to second on a wild pitch then was moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by Angelo Castellano. After Tucker Bradley was intentionally walked, Hernández chopped a ball to the Missions’ second baseman and Means scored ahead of the throw for 9-8 win, snapping a seven-game losing streak.

Hernández went 3-for-5 in the win, scoring twice while also walking once. Bradley and catcher Luca Tresh contributed two-hit games, while Alexander drove in three runs.

Northwest Arkansas will try and win a second straight game Saturday at 6:05 p.m. CT, with left-hander T.J. Sikkema on the mound.