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Naturals beat Cardinals 6-3 in Game 1 of doubleheader

May 20, 2018

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- After being one-hit by a three-pitcher combo that included Alex Reyes and Tyler Lyons on Saturday, the Naturals didn't lack for hits in Game 1 of Sunday's doubleheader with the Cardinals.Northwest Arkansas scored two runs in the third, fourth and fifth innings, got two RBIs from Nicky

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- After being one-hit by a three-pitcher combo that included Alex Reyes and Tyler Lyons on Saturday, the Naturals didn't lack for hits in Game 1 of Sunday's doubleheader with the Cardinals.

Northwest Arkansas scored two runs in the third, fourth and fifth innings, got two RBIs from Nicky Lopez and shut down a Springfield rally in the seventh in a 6-3 final at Hammons Field.

The game was delayed for one hour and 36 minutes in the top of the fifth inning due to rain.

Walker Sheller was credited with the win for the Naturals, tossing 2.1 scoreless innings of relief after Springfield put up three runs in four innings off Northwest Arkansas starter Foster Griffin.

Cardinals starter Connor Jones was saddled with his first loss of the season. Jones allowed four runs on nine hits and three walks over 3.1 innings.

The Naturals struck first with two runs in the third courtesy of run-scoring singles by Elier Hernandez and Anderson Miller.

Edmundo Sosa's fourth homer of the season tied the game 2-2 in the bottom half of the third, scoring Stefan Trosclair.

The Naturals reclaimed the lead in the fourth when Brandon Downes and John Brontsema came home on a Nicky Lopez single.

Blake Drake drew Springfield within 4-3 in the bottom half of the fourth thanks to a single that scored Granden Goetzman.

Northwest Arkansas put up a pair of runs for the third consecutive inning in the fifth. The first came home courtesy of a Nick Dini single into left. Dini later scored and put the Naturals up 6-3 on a Brontsema sacrifice fly, cementing the final.

Game 2 of the doubleheader began at 8:40 pm.