ULSA, Okla. — Nicky Lopez hit for the cycle, as the Northwest Arkansas Naturals topped the Tulsa Drillers 17-3 on Thursday.
Lopez singled in the first, doubled in the third, tripled in the fourth, homered in the sixth, and singled in the seventh.
Up 2-1, the Naturals extended their lead with four runs in the fourth inning, including a double by Erick Mejia that scored Lopez.
NW Arkansas later scored in three additional innings, including a six-run sixth, when the team hit three home runs to help punctuate the blowout.
NW Arkansas southpaw Jake Kalish (2-2) picked up a quality start and the win after allowing three runs on six hits over seven innings. Opposing starter Logan Bawcom (2-5) took the loss in the Texas League game after a rough outing in which he allowed nine runs and nine hits over 42/3 innings.
For the Drillers, Will Smith homered and singled, scoring two runs.
ARKANSAS 7, SPRINGFIELD 3
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — Chuck Taylor drove in Donnie Walton with a sacrifice fly in the seventh inning, leading the Arkansas Travelers to a 7-3 win over the Springfield Cardinals on Thursday. The sacrifice fly by Taylor started the scoring in a four-run inning and gave the Travelers a 4-3 lead. Later in the inning, Joey Curletta drew a bases-loaded walk and Dario Pizzano hit a two-run double. Braden Bishop doubled and singled twice, scoring two runs for Arkansas.