Hooks win finale 3-1, take series

Corpus Christi, TX - The Arkansas Travelers fell 3-1 to the Corpus Christi Hooks in the series finale on Sunday at Whataburger Field.

Trailing 1-0 in the sixth, the Hooks scored three times to take the 3-1 lead.

For the second straight night, the Travs starting pitcher worked five scoreless innings. A day after RHP Michael Brady set a new career-high for innings pitched, LHP Nate Smith allowed only three hits with a walk and three strikeouts over his five innings, but did not come back out for the sixth after throwing 93 pitches over his first five.

LHP Nate Hyatt (L, 1-1) surrendered the three runs on two hits with two walks over two-thirds of an inning in the sixth.

Hooks starter RHP Mike Hauschild (W, 5-1) worked into the eighth but did not record an out. After allowed singles to both CF Jared Mitchell and 3B Drew Maggi, RHP Travis Ballew was called out of the bullpen and worked out of the jam. Ballew secured his first save of the season. The seven innings of work for Hauschild tied a season-long for a Corpus Christi pitcher.

Arkansas scored its lone run in the third thanks to a DH Raywilly Gomez single and C Anthony Bemboom two-out RBI single. Bemboom improved to 8-for-12 this season with runners in scoring position and two outs.

LHP Greg Mahle made his Double-A debut for the Travs and worked 1.1 scoreless frames with a strikeout.

RHP Austin Adams tossed a 1-2-3 eighth with two strikeouts.

Gomez and Mitchell both had two hits for Arkansas.

With the loss, the Travs concluded the roadtrip 2-4 and head back to Arkansas 30-25 on the season. Arkansas trails Northwest Arkansas by 2.5 games in the Texas League North with 15 games remaining in the first half.

The Texas League is off for a travel day on Monday and will resume play on Tuesday. Arkansas will welcome the Springfield Cardinals to town for a four game series beginning Tuesday at Dickey-Stephens Park. First pitch is scheduled for 7:10 p.m.