NATURALS MASH 17 HITS IN 8-7 WIN OVER SOD POODLES

SPRINGDALE, AR – The Northwest Arkansas Naturals mashed a season-high 17 hits, with six player collecting multi-hit games in an 8-7 win over the Amarillo Sod Poodles Friday night at Arvest Ballpark.

Second baseman Michael Massey, left fielder Nate Eaton and center fielder John Rave each collected three hits, with Rave falling a home run short of the cycle. Nick Loftin, Robbie Glendinning and Jake Means each contributed two-hit nights as well, with Glendinning, Eaton, Rave and Means each driving in two runs.

Eaton started the scoring in the second, leading off the inning with a solo home run, his second of the season. Rave tripled moments later, then came home to score on a Means groundout.

After Amarillo tied the score with two runs in the fourth, Northwest Arkansas responded with three runs in the fifth, as Rave doubled home two, then Means singled him home.

The Sod Poodles inched a run closer in the sixth, but the Naturals answered back with a two-run double from Glendinning, his second two-bagger of the game, and an RBI single from Eaton, his third hit of the game.

Making his second start of the season, left-hander Dante Biasi allowed two runs with four strikeouts across 3.2 innings. Southpaw Walter Pennington picked up the win in relief, with 2.1 innings of one-run baseball, striking out three for his third decision in as many appearances with the Naturals.

After Stephen Woods Jr. pitched 1.2 innings, Jonah Dipoto shut the door for the Naturals, recording the final four outs with three strikeouts across 1.1 innings for his first save of the year.

The Naturals look to win a second straight over Amarillo at 6:05 p.m. CT, with right-hander Alec Marsh making his fourth start of the year.