SPRINGDALE, AR – Javier Vaz hit a go-ahead, bases-clearing double and the Northwest Arkansas Naturals (24-32, 53-70) won 8-7 on a walk-off wild pitch against the Frisco RoughRiders (27-29, 66-58) on Saturday night at Arvest Ballpark. The Naturals go for the series win against the RoughRiders on Sunday, with first pitch at 2:05 PM CT.
Northwest Arkansas’ offense started off the contest with four consecutive hits and plated three runs in the first frame. Luke Pelzer scored on a wild pitch and Sam Kulasingam knocked in Vaz with a single in the inning.
Frisco broke out for five runs in the fourth to take a 5-3 lead. The Nats cut the deficit to one run in the sixth on Connor Scott’s 10th homer of the season. Scott hit a solo shot to right-center field and made it a 5-4 ballgame.
The Naturals took the lead back in the seventh on three hits. Angel Acosta singled to lead off the frame, Hyungchan Um connected his second single of the game and Luke Pelzer was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Vaz sent a ball into the left-center field gap for a double to score all three runners and give NWA a 7-5 advantage.
Frisco scored a run in both the eighth and ninth to even the score and force a bottom of the ninth. Acosta led off the home half with a single, and came around to score on a wild pitch to win the game for the Naturals, 8-7.
The Naturals face the RoughRiders in the final game of the six-game series on Sunday at 2:05 PM CT. Fans 12 and younger will receive a voucher for FREE Kids Snack as they enter the gates and kids can run the bases after the game. 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.