NATURALS OFFENSE EXPLODES IN WIN OVER TULSA

TUSLA, Okla. -- Everything came together for the Northwest Arkansas Naturals (3-11) in a 10-6 win over the Tulsa Drillers (6-8) on a cool Thursday night at ONEOK Field in front of a crowd of 4,126. The Naturals utilized a combination of a strong start by Andy Ferguson along with some timely hitting from Whit Merrifield and Jorge Bonifacio snap the skid.

Merrifield and Jared Schlehuber both whacked home runs in the 10-6 victory. Merrifield snapped an 0-12 streak by finishing 2-of-4 with three runs batted in and scored three times.

The offense began in the top of the second inning as Merrifield belted a three-run blast - his third of the season - over the right-field wall to give the Naturals a 3-1 advantage. Northwest Arkansas did not trail from the second inning on.

Merrifield ignited the offense again the fourth leading off the frame with a double prior to scoring on a safety squeeze executed by Angel Franco to take a 4-2 lead. Three more runs - all unearned - came across for the Naturals in the sixth before the Drillers sliced the deficit in the bottom of the seventh with a four-run inning; but that Naturals still held the 7-6 edge.

Bonifacio came to the plate in the top of the eight with runners on first and second and two outs and smacked a two-run triple over the centerfielder's Delta Cleary Jr.'s head to extend the advantage.

Schlehuber's home run in the lead off the night to put the icing on the cake for Northwest Arkansas.

The Naturals send out RHP J.C. Sulbaran (0-1, 7.11) for his third start of the season against RHP Richard Castillo (1-0, 2.25) who makes his third start for the Drillers.

Join the Voice of the Naturals, Benjamin Kelly for the Indigo Sky Casino Pregame Show on 1030 KFAY at 6:50 leading up to the 7:05 first pitch.