Late Rally Falls Short in 8-7 Loss Saturday

Springdale, Arkansas -- Gavin Cross continued his tear at the plate this week while the Northwest Arkansas Naturals (12-13) scored seven runs over the final two innings, but fell short in an 8-7 loss to the Wichita Wind Surge (9-17) on Saturday night at Arvest Ballpark. The two teams conclude their six-game series on Sunday afternoon with a 2:05 PM CT first pitch.

The Wind Surge jumped out to an early lead against the Naturals and starter Luinder Avila, scoring a total of six runs spread out over the first three innings of the game. They added another run in the top of the fifth and an additional insurance run in the top of the eighth, proving to be the most crucial score of the game.

In the bottom of the inning, Northwest Arkansas reeled off six runs, a season-high scoring effort for an inning, after Jack Alexander and Leonel Valera started the frame with walks. Javier Vaz singled to plate the first two runs of the game and break up the shutout. Peyton Wilson knocked in a run with a single of his own to cut the deficit to five and Gavin Cross brought home two with a double to center. Josh Lester grounded out to first, plating Cross to make it an 8-6 game.

Anderson Paulino took care of business on the mound in the ninth, recording a 1-2-3 inning for the Naturals who got to work on offense in the bottom of the frame. Valera took a fastball off the arm to start the inning but stayed in the game, stealing second base on the next pitch. Vaz walked to put the tying run at first, but Wilson and Rodolfo Durán struck out. Wallace hit a dribbler to third and beat out the throw at first, scoring another run to make it a 8-7 game, bringing Gavin Cross to the plate. The lefty slugger hammered the first pitch he saw deep to right field, but it hooked foul for strike one. Cross eventually struck out to end the game and sink the Naturals hopes of a second-straight come-from-behind victory over Wichita.

The two teams conclude their series on Sunday with a 2:05 PM CT first pitch at Arvest Ballpark. The Naturals will send LHP Noah Cameron (1-1, 3.20) to the mound for his second start of the week against Wind Surge RHP Travis Adams (1-2, 6.55) in a rematch of Tuesday's starting pitching matchup.

Fans can get their tickets by visiting the Arvest Ballpark box office or going to www.nwanaturals.com. You can also watch the game on the Bally Live app, MLB.TV, or MiLB.tv. Fans can listen to the action with the "Voice of the Naturals", Shawn Murnin, via nwanaturals.com or on the MiLB app.