Northwest Arkansas downs Midland

SPRINGDALE — Northwest Arkansas scored twice in the bottom of the seventh inning to snap a 1-1 tie and went on to take a 3-1 win over Midland during Friday night’s game at Arvest Ballpark.

The Naturals improved to 6-7 and have now won three in a row.

Diego Hernandez reached on an infield single to start the bottom of the seventh. He was off with the pitch and came all around to score on Rolpho Duran’s double down the leftfield line off Rock Hounds reliever Chase Cohen (0-1). The Naturals pushed the lead to 3-1 on Peyton Wilson’s run-scoring groundout.

Northwest Arkansas Manager Tommy Shields said Duran executed the hit-and-run to perfection.

“Duran’s a great guy to do it with, because he can handle the bat,” Shields said.

Shields said the Naturals will now look to win a series for the first time this season having taken three of four thus far.

“We don’t want to get too far ahead of ourselves,” Shields said. “I like this club, but we have to play well. We’ve given up way too many easy runs. Throwing them away and defense and wild pitches, walks. We’ve got to eliminate that stuff and we did the last couple days.”

Midland dropped to 8-5 and has now lost three in a row.

Naturals starter Chandler Champlain pitched well, allowing a run on six hits over six innings, but he left with the game tied. He struck out six and didn’t walk a batter. Austin Cox (1-0) picked up the win with two scoreless innings and Beck Way closed out a hitless ninth with two strikeouts to notch his first save.

Shields couldn’t be happier with the pitching staff to start the season, particularly the last couple of days.

“We have a good staff,” Shields said. “Champ had a couple tough outings, but he’s good. He just needs to pitch and he’s going to be fine. Beck’s been throwing great. Cox threw well, his splitter is good. If we give up one run a night, I like our chances.”

Midland starter Ryan Cusick didn’t throw a pitch as he was lifted because of an injury before throwing a pitch. Relievers David Leal and Colin Peluse threw three innings each.

Jacob Wilson hit a solo home run to give Midland a 1-0 lead in the top of the third. But Northwest Arkansas tied the game 1-1 in the bottom of the third as Peyton Wilson drew a two-out walk, stole second and scored on a soft RBI-single by Dillan Shrum.

The Rock Hounds threatened in the top of the sixth as Cooper Bowman slapped a two-out triple into the left-center field gap. Hernandez made a leaping catch on Colby Thomas’s fly ball to end the inning.