SPRINGDALE, AR – Sam Kulasingam’s two-run homer proved to be the difference in the Northwest Arkansas Naturals’ (23-32, 52-70) 5-3 win over the Frisco RoughRiders (27-28, 66-57) on Friday night at Arvest Ballpark. The Naturals continue their six-game set against the RoughRiders on Saturday, with first pitch at 6:05 PM CT.
After Frisco got the scoring started with a run in the top of the first, the Naturals responded with two in the bottom half. Luke Pelzer scored on a balk and Jorge Alfaro knocked in Spencer Nivens with a single to left, which gave Northwest Arkansas a 2-1 lead.
The RoughRiders tied things up in the second, but the Nats took the lead right back in the home half on one swing of the bat. Kulasingam connected on a two-run homer to right – his 10th long ball of the season. The switch hitter made it 4-2, Naturals.
NWA tacked on one in the fourth on Pelzer’s RBI double to plate Alberto Rodriguez, who singled to reach base. Drew Beam (8-10) served up one more run in the fifth, but finished off the frame with the Nats in front, 5-3. Beam punched out three RoughRiders and notched the victory.
Reliever Augusto Mendieta dealt three scoreless innings and Zachary Cawyer spun a 1-2-3 ninth to collect his fifth save of the year. The Nats evened up the series at two games apiece with the 5-3 win.
The Naturals face the RoughRiders in the penultimate game of the six-game series on Saturday at 6:05 PM CT. The first 1,500 fans in attendance will receive a Carter Jensen bobblehead, and fans can enjoy pregame “Happy Hour” specials at the Bullpen Party. Fans can get their tickets at NWANaturals.com for the remainder of the series.
As always, fans can follow along through the Naturals' TV broadcast, available with a subscription to MLB.tv or the MiLB App and for free through the Bally Live Sports App. Additionally, you can listen to the radio call with the "Voice of the Naturals", Shawn Murnin, all season long on the MiLB app and NWANaturals.com.