SPRINGDALE -- Frank Schwindel is off to a torrid start, and the Northwest Arkansas Naturals rode his bat to a 6-4 win Friday night against San Antonio in Arvest Ballpark.
Schwindel was 3-for-4 and came within a triple of hitting for the cycle with four RBIs as the Naturals won their first game of the season in front of 4,748 fans.
NW Arkansas 6, San Antonio 4
San Antonio^100^012^000^—^4^10^0
NW Arkansas^100^113^00x^—^6^10^0
San Antonio^AB^R^H^RBI^BB^SO^LOB^AVG
Urias, 2B^4^0^1^1^1^0^0^.286
Rondon, Jos, SS^5^0^1^0^0^0^1^.222
Torres, N, LF^5^2^3^1^0^1^0^.333
Reyes, Fr, RF^3^0^1^1^1^1^2^.286
Perez, F, 1B^4^0^0^0^0^1^2^.125
Schulz, DH^2^1^2^1^2^0^0^.500
Stevens, 3B^3^1^1^0^1^1^2^.286
Kennedy, A, C^4^0^0^0^0^1^4^.000
Bousfield, CF^4^0^1^0^0^1^2^.143
Totals^34^4^10^4^5^6^13^
BATTING
2B: Reyes, Fr (1, Skoglund); Schulz (2, Skoglund); Stevens (2, Tenuta). 3B: Urias (1, Tenuta). HR: Torres, N (1, 5th inning off Tenuta, 0 on, 2 out); Schulz (1, 6th inning off Tenuta, 0 on, 0 out). TB: Urias 3; Stevens 2; Rondon, Jos; Reyes, Fr 2; Bousfield; Torres, N 6; Schulz 6. RBI: Reyes, Fr (1); Torres, N (1); Schulz (1); Urias (2). 2-out RBI: Reyes, Fr; Torres, N; Urias. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Perez, F; Reyes, Fr; Rondon, Jos; Bousfield. GIDP: Stevens. Team RISP: 2-for-11. Team LOB: 8.
NW Arkansas^AB^R^H^RBI^BB^SO^LOB^AVG
Dewees Jr., CF^4^0^2^1^0^1^0^.286
Escalera, RF^4^2^2^0^0^0^0^.286
Duenez, 1B^4^1^1^0^0^1^1^.125
Schwindel, DH^4^2^3^4^0^0^0^.625
Ramos, 3B^4^0^2^1^0^0^1^.250
Arteaga, SS^3^0^0^0^0^1^1^.167
Sosa, R, LF^2^1^0^0^1^1^1^.000
Morin, P, C^3^0^0^0^0^1^2^.000
Lopez, Jac, 2B^3^0^0^0^0^1^1^.000
Totals^31^6^10^6^1^6^7^
BATTING
2B: Schwindel (2, Kelly, M). HR: Schwindel (1, 6th inning off Vargas, 2 on, 0 out). TB: Schwindel 7; Duenez; Ramos 2; Dewees Jr. 2; Escalera 2. RBI: Schwindel 4 (4); Ramos (1); Dewees Jr. (1). 2-out RBI: Schwindel; Dewees Jr.. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Morin, P. Team RISP: 4-for-7. Team LOB: 2.
PITCHING
San Antonio^IP^H^R^ER^BB^SO^HR^ERA
Kelly, M^4.2^6^3^3^1^2^0^5.79
Vargas (L, 0-1)^1.1^4^3^3^0^3^1^20.25
De Paula^2.0^0^0^0^0^1^0^0.00
NW Arkansas^IP^H^R^ER^BB^SO^HR^ERA
Skoglund^3.1^5^1^1^3^1^0^2.70
Tenuta (W, 1-0)^3.2^5^3^3^1^3^2^7.36
Beal (H, 1)^1.0^0^0^0^1^1^0^0.00
Newberry (S, 1)^1.0^0^0^0^0^1^0^0.00
WP: Vargas; Beal. Balk: Kelly, M.
Umpires: HP: Cody Oakes. 1B: Justin Robinson. 3B: Reid Gibbs.
T: 2:50. Att: 4,748.
"I'm just feeling really good," Schwindel said. "I did a lot of work in the offseason and a lot of work in spring training. I'm just trying to keep it simple."
Schwindel, the Naturals' designated hitter, has five hits in the first two games of the season-opening three-game series. He was 2-for-4 in Thursday's 4-0 loss on opening night and is batting .625.
Naturals manager Vance Wilson said Schwindel, who hit 22 home runs last season, often gave at bats away trying to hit the long ball. He also said offseason conditioning has also played a big role in his early season hot start.
"He's in much better shape than he's ever been in," Wilson said. "That not helps the physical, but also the mental. He's worked his tail off to be a better hitter, and our new hitting guy Leon (Roberts) has done a great job with him."
The game was back-and-forth early as the teams traded the lead. San Antonio scored two runs in the sixth inning, including a solo home run from Nick Schulz to take a 4-3 lead before the Naturals got to reliever Cesar Vargas in the bottom of the inning.
Alfredo Escalera and Samir Duenez led off the sixth with back-to-back singles to bring up Schwindel. The former 18th round draft pick crushed a home run well over the visitor's bullpen in left field to give the Naturals a 6-4 lead, and the Northwest Arkansas bullpen made it hold up as Evan Beal and Jake Newberry pitched a scoreless eighth and ninth inning respectively to seal the win.
Matt Tenuta earned the win in relief of starter Eric Skoglund. Vargas took the loss.
Short Hops
• The Naturals scored their first run of the season in the bottom of the first when Frank Schwindel's bloop single into shallow center field drove in Alfredo Escalera from second. The Naturals were shut out 4-0 in Thursday's season-opener.
• Naturals lead-off hitter Donnie Dewees opened the bottom of the first inning with a 16-pitch at bat against San Antonio starter Michael Kelly before he finally struck out. Dewees was 2-for-4 with an RBI.
• Nick Torres had a big night at the plate for the Missions, going 3-for-4 with a home run. Schulz was 2-for-2 with a double.
On Deck: The teams will wrap up their season-opening three-game series today. Kyle Zimmer, the former No. 1 draft pick of the Kansas City Royals, will take the mound for the Naturals. Last season the right-hander was limited by arm injuries and was just 0-2 with a 3.18 ERA. Enyel De Los Santon, a right-hander, will go for the Missions. The first pitch is scheduled for 6:05 p.m. in Arvest Ballpark.
The Naturals will open a three-game homestand on Sunday against Corpus Christi with RHP Christian Binford getting the start for Northwest Arkansas.
Today's Promotion: The first 2,000 fans at today's game will receive a Ballpark Calendar commemorating the Naturals' 10th season.
On The Air: 1590-AM The Ticket
On The Web: www.nwanaturals.com
Sports on 04/08/2017