TULSA, OKLAHOMA -- Colton Becker tied a team record by reaching base six times while going five-for-five with two homers in the Northwest Arkansas Naturals' (13-20, 42-58) 19-7 win over the Tulsa Drillers (19-14, 65-37) Sunday afternoon at ONEOK Field in Tulsa, OK. The Naturals have an off day on Monday before starting a six-game homestand against the Twins AA-Affiliate, the Wichita Wind Surge, on Tuesday at 7:05 PM CT.
Tulsa took the early advantage with a four-run first before tacking on two more in the second. The Naturals were undeterred on offense, putting up some big numbers in the third and fourth.
Tulsa's lead evaporated in the third. Sam Kulasingam reached on a fielder's choice in the top of the third with Justin Johnson and Alberto Rodriguez scoring on an errant throw from Drillers starter Aidan Foeller. Carson Roccaforte came up later in the frame and dunked a single into center field, driving in Luke Pelzer to make it 6-3. Jorge Alfaro plated a pair with a single to center, and Becker gave NWA the lead with a two-run homer to left-center. Rodriguez drove in another run with a single to center, capping an eight-run inning to give the Naturals an 8-6 edge.
Northwest Arkansas wasn't done, either. Roccaforte hammered his 25th home run of the season, a two-run shot, to make it a 10-6 ballgame. Roccaforte has the seventh-most homers in a single season in team history with the clout, his 30th with the Nats since joining the team last season. Scott hit a three-run homer later in the frame, and Johnson went back-to-back with him right after to make it 14-6. Kulasingam topped off the inning with his own two-run blast, giving the Nats a 16-6 edge. It was another eight-run frame for the Naturals offense.
Becker went deep again in the top of the fifth with a three-run, opposite-field bomb. Becker finished the day with a career-high, five-hit game to go along with the first multi-homer game of his professional career.
The Drillers scored again in the sixth, but the Naturals bullpen held off any type of later rally in the 19-7 victory.
The Naturals offensive effort fell two runs shy of a team record, three hits shy of the most in a single game in club history, and one homer short of tying the team record from long balls in a game.
Northwest Arkansas is off Monday before returning to Arvest Ballpark on Tuesday to begin a six-game series against the Wichita Wind Surge. Fans can check out this week's promotions and get their tickets at www.NWANaturals.com.