SPRINGDALE -- Northwest Arkansas' baseball team could easily be called the "Running Naturals" or the "Natural Thieves" this season.
The Naturals had stolen at least one base in 14 of their previous 15 games before Saturday's showdown against Tulsa, and their 30 combined stolen bases easily give them the Texas League lead.
Northwest Arkansas (6-9) was back to its tricks in a 7-3 victory over the Drillers before 5,243 at Arvest Ballpark, where the Naturals have won their last six games. They swiped three more, and two of them eventually led to runs being scored moments later.
"Our biggest thing is what our team is," Northwest Arkansas manager Vance Wilson. "You can't really steal bases if your guys aren't base-stealers.
"We have a lot of athletic guys, and a lot of guys have been working on it in previous years. Now they are applying it, and they're staying aggressive."
Carlos Garcia picked up his first stolen base of the season after a leadoff single in the first, and he scored when Raul Mondesi doubled off first baseman Lars Anderson's glove into right field. Orlando Calixte made it 2-0 when his fielder's choice drove in Mondesi, then later stole second.
Calixte added another stolen base in the sixth when he swiped third, then he raced home on an errant throw to give Northwest Arkansas a 5-1 cushion. That gives the Naturals 33 stolen bases out of 37 attempts this season.
"The players are doing an incredible job of looking for the keys off the pitcher, taking advantage of opportunities," Wilson said. "If their team is going to give it to us, we're going to take it -- whether it's no outs, one out, two outs or whether it's second or third.
"I'm proud of the guys. The biggest thing I've tried to preach to them is we're going to be opportunistic. It may be only one chance in an inning, and we have to be ready for it."
Short Hops:
• Northwest Arkansas starter Eric Skoglund (1-0) allowed one run on seven hits over five innings, and six of those hits came after two were out.
• Calixte's two stolen bases now give him eight for the season, tying him with teammate Mondesi for the league lead.
• Jack Lopez hit his first home run of the season when he belted a solo shot off the left-field wall off Tulsa starter Chase De Jong (1-3) to lead off the fifth.
On Deck: The two teams conclude their four-game series with a 2:05 p.m. game today. Northwest Arkansas sends right-hander Alec Mills (1-1, 2.12 ERA) to the mound, while Tulsa counters with righty Brock Stewart (0-0, 0.00).
Today's Promotion: It's Bark at the Ballpark, and dogs will be given free admission as long as their owners enter the gates with a paid admission. Kids 12 and younger will be given food vouchers upon entering the gates and can enjoy a number of family activities, as well as run the bases after the game.
On The Air: KQSM-FM 92.1
On The Web: www.nwanaturals.com
Package w/Texas League standings from AP; and box score. Attach box score in elements.
Sports on 04/24/2016