Naturals rally late to top Drillers

SPRINGDALE — Elier Hernandez scored four runs for Northwest Arkansas Saturday night, but his last one was the most important for the Naturals.

With the score knotted at 9 in the bottom of the ninth inning, and Hernandez at third, a throwing error by Tulsa’s Connor Joe gave the Naturals a 10-9 victory over the Tulsa Drillers Saturday night at Arvest Ballpark. Hernandez had his fourth hit of the game, and his fourth RBI, just three batters earlier to score Nicky Lopez, and tie the score.

Hernandez finished 4-for-5 with a home run, double, and four RBI. “That’s good for us, that’s good for the team,” Hernandez said. “With a win like that, a walkoff, it’s amazing.”

“For me, I went home right away. It doesn’t matter if he threw it away. We’ll take the win.”

The Naturals won after trailing by five after the top of the fifth inning. Drillers’ first-baseman Peter O’Brien slugged a three-run homer in that frame to put the Drillers up 8-3. The Naturals, though, started chipping away at the Drillers’ lead. Northwest Arkansas scored four runs in the bottom half of the fifth on three singles and walk, to trail by only a run. The Naturals added another one run in the seventh, and two more in the ninth for the victory.

“Everybody put in good energy, and never got down,” said Hernandez of the comeback.

Nicky Lopez, who batted third in the Naturals’ line up, one spot ahead of Hernandez, finished 4-for-5, including a leadoff triple in the ninth inning to set up the game tying run. He also scored three runs.

The Naturals conclude the series with Tulsa today. Firstpitch is scheduled for 2:05 p.m.

SHORT HOPS

■ Tulsa sent the minimum three batters to the plate only once, the third inning. The Drillers had seven players bat in the second and sixth innings respectively, and nine in the fourth.

On Deck: Northwest Arkansas Naturals host the Tulsa Drillers today. First pitch is scheduled for 2:05 p.m. Emilio Ogando will start on the mound for the Naturals. Devin Smeltzer will start for the Drillers.

Today’s Promotion: To celebrate Mother’s Day, the first 500 moms in attendance will receive a special Mother’s Day Naturals’ T-shirt courtesy of Johnsonville.

On The Air: KQSM-FM 92.1

On The Web: www.nwa naturals.com