SPRINGDALE -- Northwest Arkansas looked primed for the Texas League playoffs in front of a crowd of 7,157 at Arvest Ballpark.
The Naturals jumped in front Friday with an eight-run first inning and notched their first series sweep since May with a 9-1 win over Springfield.
Northwest Arkansas 9, Springfield 1
Springfield^000^000^010^—^1^4^0
Northwest Arkansas^800^100^00x^—^9^12^2
Springfield^AB^R^H^RBI^BB^SO^LOB^AVG
Tilson, DH^4^0^0^0^0^0^1^.290
O’Neill, LF^4^0^2^1^0^0^0^.298
Caldwell, 3B^4^0^1^0^0^2^2^.265
Rodriguez, Jon, 1B^4^0^0^0^0^1^2^.271
Washington, RF^4^0^0^0^0^2^2^.265
Ohlman, C^4^0^1^0^0^0^0^.281
Martini, CF^2^0^0^0^1^1^1^.266
Valera, B, SS^3^1^0^0^0^1^1^.235
Wiley, 2B^3^0^0^0^0^2^1^.000
Totals^32^1^4^1^1^9^10^
BATTING
2B: Ohlman (16). TB: Caldwell; Ohlman 2; O’Neill 2. RBI: O’Neill (15). GIDP: Valera, B. RISP: 1-for-4. LOB: 5. DP: (Valera, B-Wiley-Rodriguez, Jon).
NW Arkansas^AB^R^H^RBI^BB^SO^LOB^AVG
Mondesi, SS^5^1^3^2^0^1^0^.262
Starling, DH^4^0^0^1^1^0^3^.257
Bonifacio, J, RF^5^2^2^1^0^0^2^.245
Liddi, 2B^5^1^3^0^0^0^1^.282
Adams, L, CF^4^1^3^2^0^0^0^.287
Dozier, 3B^2^1^0^0^2^1^4^.210
Schwindel, 1B^4^1^1^1^0^0^3^.223
Morin, P, C^3^1^0^1^1^0^0^.327
Gore, LF^3^1^0^1^1^1^0^.281
Totals^35^9^12^9^5^3^13^
BATTING
2B: Adams, L (19). HR: Bonifacio, J (17). TB: Schwindel; Mondesi 3; Bonifacio, J 5; Liddi 3; Adams, L 4. RBI: Adams, L 2 (42), Schwindel (20), Morin, P (27), Gore (15), Mondesi 2 (33), Starling (30), Bonifacio, J (63). RISP: 4-for-9. LOB: 7.
FIELDING
E: Schwindel (4, missed catch), Gore (5, fielding).
DP: (Zimmer-Liddi-Mondesi-Schwindel).
Springfield^IP^H^R^ER^BB^SO^HR^ERA
Morales (L, 4-7)^0.1^5^6^6^1^0^0^5.29
Donofrio^3.0^3^3^3^3^2^1^4.58
Sherriff^3.1^4^0^0^0^1^0^3.15
Perry^1.1^0^0^0^1^0^0^5.84
NW Arkansas^IP^H^R^ER^BB^SO^HR^ERA
Zimmer (W, 2-4)^5.0^2^0^0^1^6^0^2.44
McCarthy^1.0^0^0^0^0^1^0^5.84
Peterson, M^1.0^1^0^0^0^0^0^2.94
Culver^2.0^1^1^0^0^2^0^3.58
Pitches-strikes: Morales 32-20, Donofrio 55-31, Sherriff 41-28, Perry 29-16, Zimmer 74-49, McCarthy 29-17, Peterson, M 11-7, Culver 35-21.
Umpires: HP: Clay Park. 1B: Nate Tomlinson. 3B: Clayton Hamm.
T: 2:48. Att: 7,157.
Northwest Arkansas (25-24, 65-64) won the first-half North Division title but has struggled throughout much of the second half. The Naturals won for the seventh time in their last nine game thanks to an offensive explosion.
Shortstop Raul Mondesi had two singles and two RBIs in the big first inning as the Naturals sent 12 batters to the plate. Lane Adams also added a two-run double. Parker Morin and Terrance Gore drove in runs with bases-loaded walks.
Mondesi, Adams and Alex Liddi had three hits each to pace the Naturals' 12-hit attack. Mondesi and Adams drove in two runs each and both scored a run.
That was plenty for starter Kyle Zimmer (2-4). He snapped a personal four-game losing skid and was in control, after pitching around two first-inning singles. The right-hander threw five shutout innings, allowing two hits, striking out six and walking one.
Northwest Arkansas manager Vance Wilson said the reaction from opposing batters tells the story about how well Zimmer was throwing.
"Outstanding. You can tell the guy's really good when he's throwing pitches and the other team thinks they're down and they're not," Wilson said. "That means the ball's getting on them. That means the ball's coming out of his hand really well. He's hitting his spots. He was just outstanding."
The Naturals' long first inning actually probably kept Zimmer from going deeper into the game, Wilson said. He was forced to warm up a second time after Northwest Arkansas' 40-minute bottom of the first. Zimmer threw 74 pitches, 49 for strikes and retired 13 out of the last 14 hitters he faced.
"We would have liked to have extended him another inning," Wilson said. "But he had to warm up again, and you're talking about another 15 pitches down there. So, smart with where he's been and where he's going in his career. Even with the cool night, it was the right move."
The Naturals will now host North Division-leading Arkansas for a three-game series in what could be a preview of the division series.
SHORT HOPS
• Naturals first baseman Frank Schwindel was hit with a clock violation in the bottom of the second inning and assessed a strike by home plate umpire Clay Park. He later fouled out to the catcher to end the inning.
• Mike O'Neill had two of Springfield's four hits and drove in the Cardinals' lone run with a single up the middle in the eighth inning.
Extra Bases: It was the first series sweep for the Naturals since they took four straight from Arkansas on May 18-21. ... Springfield starting pitcher Andrew Morales was charged with six earned runs on five hits in just one-third of an inning.
Today's promotion: It's Night of 1,000 Giveaways at Arvest Ballparks as any number of different items will be given to fans.
On Deck: The Naturals will open a three-game series against Arkansas tonight at 6:05. Right-hander Paul Clemens (0-0 6.00 ERA) will start on the mound for Northwest Arkansas. He will be opposed by RHP Chris Ellis (6-3 3.52).
On The Air: 92.1-FM, The Ticket
On The Web: www.naturals.com
Sports on 08/29/2015