SPRINGDALE, AR – Javier Vaz had two hits in his season debut, but the Northwest Arkansas Naturals (15-23, 44-61) fell 5-2 to the Wichita Wind Surge (16-22, 41-64) on Saturday night at Arvest Ballpark. The Naturals conclude their six-game set against the Wind Surge on Sunday, with first pitch at 2:05 PM CT.
Wichita got off to an immediate lead in the first inning by plating two runs. The Wind Surge tacked on a run in the second to make it 3-0, a lead they held through four frames.
Carson Roccaforte got the Naturals on the board in the fifth by hitting a sacrifice fly to right. The lefty plated Justin Johnson to bring the team’s deficit to two. Roccaforte recorded his team-leading 73rd RBI.
After Wichita plated one in the top of the sixth, Northwest Arkansas responded in the bottom half. Vaz, who made his season debut for the Naturals, singled and came around to score on a wild pitch. Vaz went 2-for-4 in his first game of 2026.
The Wind Surge tacked on with one in the eighth to take a 5-2 advantage. NWA recorded a hit in eight of the nine innings, including in the ninth, but failed to bring in a run and fell by that score.
The Naturals face the Wind Surge 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.