Naturals walk off in postseason opener

Springdale, AR - The Northwest Arkansas Naturals walked off on the Arkansas Travs with a 4-3 win in game one of the Texas League North Championship on Wednesday night at Arvest Ballpark.

CF Bubba Starling reached on a dropped pop-up back to LHP Chris O'Grady (L, 0-1) to start the ninth. After O'Grady retired 3B Hunter Dozier and DH Zane Evans to keep Starling at first with two outs, C Parker Morin blooped a three-ball, two-strike pitch down the left field line that was hit softly enough to allow Starling to score the game-winning run.

Arkansas led 3-1 heading to the eighth inning, but SS Raul Mondesi, who was mired in an 0-for-22 slump, hit a two-run, game-tying home run off RHP Danny Reynolds.

Travs 2B Sherman Johnson gave Arkansas the 3-1 advantage in the sixth thanks to a two-run double to deep center field.

Johnson finished 2-for-4 with two doubles and the two RBIs.

Arkansas starter LHP Sean Newcomb was very strong for the Travs. He worked 5.1 innings and allowed a run on four hits with three walks and four strikeouts.

RHP Eduard Santos retired each of the five batters he faced following Newcomb.

Morin finished 3-for-4 with two RBIs.

Travs 1B Brian Hernandez scored two of Arkansas' three runs and went 1-for-3 with a walk.

C Anthony Bemboom finished 2-for-4 for the Travs and 3B Drew Maggi went 1-for-3 with two walks.

RHP Mark Peterson (W, 1-0) picked up the win for the Naturals with a scoreless ninth inning.

With Northwest Arkansas leading the best-of-five series 1-0, the two teams will play game two at 7:05 p.m. on Thursday night at Arvest Ballpark before the series shifts back to North Little Rock on Friday.