NATURALS FALL TO HOOKS IN SERIES FINALE, 4-0

SPRINGDALE, Ark. - Northwest Arkansas got a solid start from Eric Skoglund as the lefty struck out five in 6.0 innings of work but the Naturals (27-26, 56-67) would fall to the Corpus Christi Hooks (26-27, 73-50) in the series finale by the score of 4-0. 

Both starting pitchers threw well for their respective teams. Skoglund (L, 6-9) of the Naturals scattered six hits over 6.0 innings of three-run ball while striking out five. His counterpart though was even more dominant. RHP Cy Sneed (W, 5-5) of the Hooks fired 7.0 scoreless innings and struck out five while only allowing four hits. Neither would issue a walk in 13.0 combined frames.

The visitors from Texas got on the board early in Thursday night's game courtesy of Ramon Laureano. The Corpus Christi center fielder followed Mott Hyde's one-out single in the first with a two-run home run over the wall in left for an early 2-0 advantage. The game would remain 2-0 in the Hooks favor until the fifth when they would tack on another run by way of small ball. Conrad Gregor led off the inning with an infield single and came around to score on a sacrifice fly by Hyde to make it a 3-0 game. The final tally for the Hooks would come in the eighth on a RBI single by J.D. Davis, which would set the final score at 4-0.

Corpus Christi out-hit Northwest Arkansas by a 9-to-7 mark as Gregor and Antonio Nunez each collected multi-hit games. The Naturals spread out their seven hits across six batters with third baseman Mauricio Ramos with the lone two-hit night.

Tonight marked the final time the two teams would meet during the 2016 regular season with the season series ending at 6-6. If the Naturals were to make the postseason, the two clubs could square off against each other again in the Texas League Championship Series as the Corpus Christi Hooks claimed the First Half Championship in the Texas League South Division.

Northwest Arkansas will continue their six (6) game homestand by welcoming the San Antonio Missions (Double-A San Diego Padres) to Arvest Ballpark tomorrow night - Friday, August 19 - for the series opener of a 3-game set with first pitch scheduled for 7:15 p.m. Tomorrow night is our second and final Faith & Family Night Pre-Game Concert & Post-Game Fireworks Spectacular presented by Sam's Furniture. San Antonio will send LHP Tim Berry (0-3, 9.23 ERA) to the hill while the Naturals will welcome RHP Glenn Sparkman back to the rotation. Catch the play-by-play action with the Voice of the Naturals Benjamin Kelly on your home for Naturals baseball on KQSM 92.1-FM The Ticket at 6:55 p.m. for the Indigo Sky Casino Pregame Show.

Follow the Northwest Arkansas Naturals on Twitter @NWANaturals all throughout the year by using the hashtag #NaturalPastime and #CrowntoCrown for all of our up-to-date information on Season Nine of Naturals Baseball at Arvest Ballpark.

The Northwest Arkansas Naturals are the Double-A Texas League Affiliate of the Kansas City Royals. The Naturals play at state-of-the-art Arvest Ballpark in Springdale, Ark. For more information, including statistics, ticket options, and more, please visit NWANaturals.com, and follow us on Twitter @NWANaturals and Facebook.com/Naturals.                      

-Naturals-