NATURALS EXPLODE EARLY AND BLOW PAST WIND SURGE WITH 10-3 WIN

The Northwest Arkansas Naturals scored multiple runs in each of the first three innings and posted 16 hits in a 10-3 win over the Wichita Wind Surge on Saturday night.

In the first, Brewer Hicklen brought home two runs on an error by Wind Surge shortstop Austin Martin and from that moment on, the Naturals did not relinquish the lead.

Former Natural D.J. Burt smashed a home run in the bottom half of the first, but Kevin Merrell responded with a solo shot to take the run back in the top of the second, then Vinnie Pasquantino (MLB Pipeline’s No. 18 Royals’ prospect) singled in Clay Dungan for a 4-1 lead.

Northwest Arkansas then added five runs in the fifth, first on a two-run homer from Hicklen that traveled 463 feet to left field, his 16th homer of the season and 2nd long ball of the week. After a single and a walk, Dungan then sent a three-run shot over the right field fence, his 9th homer of the season and first in over 150 at-bats.

Dungan finished the night 3-for-6, hits in each of his first three at-bats, and fell a triple shy of the cycle.

One more run crossed the plate for the Naturals in the 6th on an RBI single from Brhet Bewley, his 30th run batted in of the year.

Jonathan Heasley (MLB Pipeline’s No. 14 Royals’ prospect) earned his team-best 7th win of the season, allowing just one run across 5.0 innings while striking out three.

Holden Capps struck out three across 2.0 innings of one-run baseball, Daniel Tillo allowed a run in an inning of work and Jose Cuas used eight pitches to throw a scoreless 9th inning and finish off the Wind Surge.

Along with Dungan’s three hits, Merrell also put together his first three-hit game of the season. Jeison Guzmán (MLB Pipeline’s No. 21 Royals’ prospect), Meibrys Viloria, Freddy Fermin and Bewley all recorded two-hit efforts. Eight of nine Naturals batters had at least one hit, while eight of nine scored a run.

The win against the Wind Surge was the Naturals’ 10th victory in the season series and secures them the season series win, with one game remaining tomorrow.

With seven games remaining in 2021, Northwest Arkansas (60-52) sit 3.5 games behind first-seed Wichita (64-49) and 1.5 games behind second-place Arkansas in the Double-A Central standings.

The series concludes on Sunday at 1pm CT from Riverfront Stadium in Wichita with Drew Parrish back on the mound starting for the Naturals.