MIDLAND COMPLETES SWEEP & WINS THE TEXAS LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP

SPRINGDALE, AR - The Midland RockHounds (3-0) got four runs in the fourth and three more in the sixth of Game 3 to complete the three-game sweep of the Northwest Arkansas Naturals (0-3) on Friday night at Arvest Ballpark by the score of 7-0. The victory gives the RockHounds, the Double-A Affiliate of the Oakland Athletics, the Texas League Championship for the second consecutive season.

Game 3 of the Texas League Championship Series entered the fourth inning scoreless as both Luke Farrell of the Naturals and Parker Frazier of the RockHounds were dealing early in the game. Anthony Aliotti got the fourth inning rally started with a hit by pitch and moved to second base on a single by Renato Nunez. Midland third baseman, Ryon Healy delivered a RBI double down the third base line to score Aliotti to give the Hounds a 1-0 lead. Matt Olson followed with a RBI double of his own to score Nunez, which extended the lead to 2-0. Josh Whitaker would then complete the four-run frame with a single up the middle that scored both Healy and Olson.

Midland's offense would tack on three more runs in the top of the sixth inning against the Naturals' bullpen. Josh Whitaker, the Hounds left fielder, would connect on a 1-0 pitch and send a towering solo home run in the Bud Light Bullpen Café to make it a 5-0 game. The next two runs would come via a bases loaded walk to Colin Walsh and a RBI fielder's choice by Aliotti, which extended the lead to 7-0.

Midland out-hit Northwest Arkansas 11-to-3 on the night as Nunez, Healy, Whitaker, and Taylor all had two-hit games. The Naturals were led on offense by Parker Morin as the designated hitter went 2-for-3 and finished the postseason hitting .450. The runs in the fourth and sixth proved to be more than enough for Midland starter Parker Frazier. Frazier, whom had struggled in his previous three outings, was fantastic for the Hounds on Friday night as he threw a complete game only allowing three hits while striking out nine.

Congratulations to Midland for their outstanding year as tonight's victory by the RockHounds gives their organization four Texas League Championships in the last 11 seasons. Congratulations are also in order for the Northwest Arkansas Naturals as the franchise won the Texas League North Division Title for the first time since 2010 and finished the 2015 season with a 43-29 record at Arvest Ballpark.

The off-season officially begins and the Northwest Arkansas Naturals will return to action on Thursday, April 7 of 2016 when they host the Frisco RoughRiders, the Double-A Affiliate of the Texas Rangers, to begin Season Nine of Naturals Baseball at Arvest Ballpark.

Follow the Northwest Arkansas Naturals on Twitter @nwanaturals all throughout the year by using the hashtag #NaturalPastime for all of our up-to-date information on the Season Nine of Naturals Baseball, tickets, groups, promotions, roster, and off-season information.

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-