Minor League Baseball
Northwest Arkansas 9, Springfield 7
Lane Adams hit a tie-breaking two-run double, and Mark Threlkeld belted a two-run home run as Northwest Arkansas rallied with seven runs in the top of the ninth inning and won the opening game of a four-game series at Hammons Field.
The Naturals (9-16) trailed 4-2 going into the ninth, but they sent 10 men to the plate in the ninth and did all of their damage against Dean Kiekhefer (0-1), who had not allowed an earned run to score in his previous nine appearances and suffered his first blown save. Northwest Arkansas used four consecutive singles to tie the game before Adams ripped his double into left field one out, scoring Angel Franco and Justin Trapp and giving the Naturals a 6-4 lead.
Jared Schlehuber added a two-out RBI single before Threlkeld ended the outburst with his home run, his fourth of the season.
Malcom Culver (3-1), the fourth Naturals pitcher used, threw the final two innings and picked up the win, despite Springfield (13-12) getting a three-run double from Curt Smith in the bottom of the ninth and bringing the tying run to the plate.
The two teams will continue their series with an 11:10 a.m. game today in Springfield.
College Baseball
Arkansas-Fort Smith 13, Ecclesia College 0
Former Gravette standout Josh Vanderpool went 3-for-4 with two runs scored and two runs batted in as Arkansas-Fort Smith rolled to a victory over Ecclesia College in Tuesday's nonconference action at Crowder Field.
Seven Lions pitchers combined on a three-hit shutout. That included former Pea Ridge standout Ethan Higgins, who retired the only batter he faced, and former Springdale High pitcher Gatlin Watson, who threw the final inning and retired the Royals (26-24) in order.
Justin Southerland pitched two innings and took the loss, allowing two runs on three hits.
Sports on 04/30/2014