SPRINGDALE — It doesn’t appear Wil Myers is cooling off.
The Northwest Arkansas Naturals’ right-fielder had four hits and drove in a career-high five runs Saturday night as Northwest Arkansas defeated Corpus Christi 9-7 for its first victory at Arvest Ballpark this season.
Corpus Christi defeated Northwest Arkansas 12-5 and 12-2 in the first two games of their three-game series, but Myers helped provide enough offense Saturday night to hold off the Hooks.
The Hooks scored three runs in the first inning, but Northwest Arkansas answered with three in the bottom half of the inning and took a 4-3lead in the second on a home run by Carlo Testa.
Corpus Christi came back, and the teams were tied 7-7 going into the sixth inning before shortstop Christian Colon gave the Naturals the lead for good with his home run to left field off Hooks reliever Jonnathan Aristil.
“It was kind of tough going into the bottom of the firstalready behind, but being able to tie things up really kind of put us in a good place for the rest of the game,” said Myers, who picked up his final RBI in the eighth inning with a single that made it 9-7. “It was great to come out tonight and get that first win in front of the home fans.”
Northwest Arkansas outhit Corpus Christi 14-8 and finished with three home runs on a night when wind gusts reached 20 mph and blew stiffly out to left field for most of the game.
Myers had a double and finished 4 for 5 with 2 runs scored. He has a hit in all nine of the Naturals’ games this season.
Naturals first baseman Sharlon Schoop went 2 for 4with 1 RBI, and Ryan Jenkins finished 2 for 4 with 2 runs scored.
Aristil (0-1) took the loss, giving up 1 run on 3 hits with 3 strikeouts in 2 2/3 innings.
Today’s game
SAN ANTONIO MISSIONS VS. NW ARKANSAS NATURALS
WHEN 2 p.m.
WHERE Arvest Ballpark, Springdale RADIO KQSM, 92.1 FM, in Northwest Arkansas
INTERNET nwanaturals.com
PITCHERS San Antonio: Robbie Erlin (RHP, 0-0, 3.38 ERA); Northwest Arkansas: TimMelville (RHP, 0-0, 0.00).
THE WEEK AHEAD TODAY vs. San Antonio, 2 p.m.
MONDAY vs. San Antonio, 7 p.m.
TUESDAY vs. San Antonio, 7 p.m.
WEDNESDAY Off THURSDAY at Arkansas, 7:10 p.m. FRIDAY at Arkansas, 7:10 p.m.
SATURDAY at Arkansas, 7:10 p.m.
Sports, Pages 35 on 04/15/2012