SPRINGDALE (NWA Naturals)- The Midland RockHounds (3-4) defeated Northwest Arkansas (2-5) in the 2015 home opener at Arvest Ballpark Thursday night. Ethan Chapman highlighted his return to Northwest Arkansas with a two run home run to narrow the Midland lead to 6-2 in the fifth inning, however the Naturals fell 8-3 at home.
Dusty Coleman preceded Chapman’s home run by hitting a one-out double to left field, coming around to score on Chapman’s home run. Lane Adamsfollowed up Chapman’s home run with a two out single, and would score the Naturals third, and final run on a triple by Angel Franco. The two combined throughout the game to collect five hits with a run and an RBI.
The Midland RockHounds starter Chris Jensen (2-0, 3.86 ERA) pitched 5.2 innings, surrendering three runs and striking out four. Ryan Dull threw no-hit ball for the final two innings to close out the game.
Reid Redman and Malcom Culver finished the game off for the Naturals, tossing the final 3.1 innings, without allowing a run scored. Redman’s threw 2.1 innings without giving up a single hit and striking out one, while Culver threw one inning.
The attendance at Arvest Ballpark for the home opener of season 8 of Naturals Baseball was 6,673, the second largest crowd for the home opener in the franchise’s eight year existence.
Northwest Arkansas continue the homestand tomorrow night, Friday, April 17 at 7;05 p.m.