SPRINGDALE — Northwest Arkansas had a franchise best six home runs Tuesday night against Arkansas before the game was delayed at 10:16 p.m. by heavy rain and lightning in the top of the 10th inning with the game tied at 8-8.
The game was suspended at 11 p.m. and it will resume at 6 p.m. today in the top of the 10th. The two teams are scheduled to play at 7 p.m. tonight in the third game of the three-game series
Northwest Arkansas pinch hitter Orlando Calixte led off the bottom of ninth with a solo home run to send the game to extra innings.
Arkansas used five straight singles and a bases-loaded walk in the seventh inning for three runs and an 8-6 lead. Travelers designated hitter Robbie Widlansky had a two-run single in a two-run sixth inning and his bases-loaded walk in the seventh upped the Travelers’ lead to 8-6 as Arkansas erased an early 5-1 Northwest Arkansas lead.
Naturals outfielders Brian Fletcher and Brett Eibner hit two home runs each.
Fletcher hit a two-run home run in the first inning for a 3-1 lead and then hit his 10th home run of the year with a solo shot in the fifth inning for a 6-3 lead. Eibner led off the Northwest Arkansas first inning with a solo home run and added another solo shot in the seventh that cut the Arkansas lead to 8-7. Chelsor Cuthbert connected for a two-run home run in the third inning for a 5-1 lead.
Short Hops
• Naturals infielder Rey Navarro extended his hitting streak to 17 games with a single in the first inning.
• Naturals starter Sugar Ray Marimon gave up eight hits, five runs and struckout four in 5 2/3 innings of work. Five of the hits were for extra bases, four doubles and a solo home run. Reliever Scott Alexander lasted just 2/3 of an inning after giving up five hits and three runs.
• The Naturals’ eight runs all crossed on the six home runs.
Extra Bases: Eibner, the Naturals’ leadoff batter, has 15 home runs on the season and 14 are solo shots. … Cuthbert’s two-run home run snapped an 0-for-8 streak after the third baseman missed four games with a hand injury.
Royals Pipeline: Shortstop Hunter Dozier is batting .278 with three home runs and 22 RBIs at Rookie League Idaho Falls. Dozier, who has six RBIs in his last three games, was drafted by Kansas City out of Stephen F. Austin in the first round (eighth overall) of this year’s Major League Baseball Draft.
On Deck: The Naturals end their homestand when they face Arkansas at 7 p.m. Northwest Arkansas will send right-hander Aaron Brooks (4-3, 5.40 ERA) to the mound. Arkansas has not announced its starter. The Naturals will hit the road Thursday for four games at Springfield before playing three games at Arkansas. They return home Aug. 1 for a four-game homestand against Tulsa.
On The Air: KQSM-FM 92.1
On The Web: www.nwanaturals.com.
ARKANSAS 8, NORTHWEST ARKANSAS 8 (game suspended 10th inning)
Arkansas^100^202^300^—^8^14^2
Northwest Arkansas^302^010^101^—^8^12^1
Oye, Graham (6), Morin (7), Carpenter (9) and Ramirez; Marimon, Alexander (6), Bergmann (7), Jackson (10) and Pina. HRs — Northwest Arkansas, Eibner 2 (15), Cuthbert (3), Fletcher 2 (10); Arkansas, Hankerd (1).