SPRINGDALE -- Northwest Arkansas scored one run in the fourth and one in the fifth, but could have had more in Game 3 of their Texas League North Division Series on Friday at Arvest Ballpark.
Frank Schwindel made sure the Naturals didn't stop at one in the sixth, slapping a two-out, two-run single up the middle to break the game open en route an 8-3 win over Springfield.
Texas League North Divisional Series
Wednesday
Game 1: Northwest Arkansas 9, Springfield 6
Friday
Game 2: Springfield 12, Northwest Arkansas 11
Game 3: Northwest Arkansas 8, Springfield 3, Naturals lead the series 2-1.
Today
Game 4: Springfield (Gomber 1-0 1.40 ERA) at Northwest Arkansas (Staumont 2-1 3.04 ERA), 2:05 p.m.
Sunday
Game 5: Springfield (Baker 4-8 4.91 ERA) at Northwest Arkansas (Caramo 5-7 2.45 ERA) 2:05 p.m. (if necessary)
The Naturals now lead the best-of-five series 2-1.
Northwest Arkansas manager Vance Wilson said his team was a little down, after losing the suspended game 12-11, but they came back strong.
"I told them look, we split on the road," Wilson said. "That's what championship teams do. I was so proud with the way they responded. That's exactly what we were looking for."
The Naturals broke the game open with a four-run bottom of the sixth aided by Schwindel's big two-out single for a 7-2 lead. Logan Moon also had an RBI single, while Ryan O'Hearn drew a bases-loaded walk.
Schwindel paced the Naturals' 14-hit attacking, going 3 for 5 with three RBIs.
Wilson said the Naturals are built round pitching and defense, but situational hitting is also huge.
"We've really come up big with two-out RBIS and that's just guys picking each other up," Wilson said. "That broke their back a little bit."
Luke Voit's two-run home run in the fourth gave the Cardinals a 2-1 lead, but Northwest Arkansas got an RBI-single from Samir Duenez in the bottom of the inning. Corey Toups then gave the Naturals the lead with a solo home run in the fifth -- his fourth of the series.
The Naturals also got strong relief work with two scoreless innings each from Eric Stout and Evan Beal. Stout picked up the win, while Beal pitched two perfect innings -- striking out four.
"The biggest thing was for Beal to shut them down there in that first inning when he came in, the seventh," Wilson said.
Game 2
Springfield 12, Northwest Arkansas 11
The Cardinals rallied with five runs in the bottom of the eighth inning and held off a late charge by the Naturals for the win.
Northwest Arkansas scored three times in the top of the ninth and had runners at first and second with two outs, but Cardinals reliever Dakota Hudson got O'Hearn to ground out to second to end the game.
The big inning by Springfield negated a big offensive performance by the Naturals and O'Hearn. Northwest Arkansas hit five solo home runs in the game, including two by O'Hearn.
The game was completed at Arvest Ballpark, after being suspended with one out in the top of the seventh on Thursday night at Hammonds Field because of rain. The Naturals were leading 8-7 when the game was halted.
Sports on 09/10/2016