TL1 Northwest Arkansas Naturals

Lane Adams Delivers Walk-Off Single

Published on July 3, 2014 under Texas League (TL1)
Northwest Arkansas Naturals News Release


SPRINGDALE, Ark. - Lane Adams drove in the game-winning run in the ninth inning on a bouncer over the RockHound's third baseman, Jefre Marte, with two outs as the Naturals (7-6, 32-51) rallied for two ninth-inning runs surging past Midland (5-7, 43-39) for a 6-5 series-opening win.

Midland scored four times over the final two innings, including three in the top of the ninth, to flip the score on Northwest Arkansas 5-4 late. In the home half of the ninth, Juan Graterol and Angel Franco hit back-to-back singles with one out to jump-start the Naturals' offense. Edinson Rincon followed with a walk pushing Justin Trapp, who came into the game as a pinch runner, to third. Trapp would come in on a sacrifice fly by Ethan Chapman setting the stage for Adams' walk-off hit.

The two clubs combined to score nine times over the final three innings, but could only plate one run each through the first six. RHP Andy Ferguson made another quality start allowing just one run, a homer by Conner Crumbliss in the fifth, on three hits through six innings of work. He did not factor into the decision, but Northwest Arkansas has won five of the last six games the Benton, Ark. native has been on the mound for. Ferguson walked two, struck out six and has gone at least six innings deep in his past six games. He leads all Naturals' pitchers with six wins and 85.1 innings of work during the 2014 season.

RHP Andrew Triggs earned with win for Northwest Arkansas improving to 4-1 on the season. He allowed three runs over 1.2 innings, but just one of the runs was earned.

Franco went a perfect 4-for-4 from the plate, his first four-hit game of 2014 and the club's third, including a clutch ninth-inning single to help ignite the rally. He doubled home a run preceding Rincon's two-RBI double in the Naturals' three-run seventh. Franco has hit safely in nine of his last ten games with six multi-hit games during that stretch. Franco is hitting a team-best .563 (18-for-32) over the last ten contests. Adams, the Texas League Player of the Month for June, collected two hits on the night for his team-leading 25th multi-hit game of the year.

Northwest Arkansas' RHP J.C. Sulbaran (5-3, 3.02) is set to face RHP Chris Jensen (4-7, 4.05) of Midland in game two of the three-game series tomorrow, Thursday, July 3 with The Great American Blast Post-Game Fireworks Spectacular and Buck Night on Thirsty Thursday presented by Adventure Subaru. The first pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.

You can catch all live play-by-play action with the Voice of the Naturals Benjamin Kelly on your home for the Naturals 92.1 the Ticket at 6:50 p.m. Indigo Sky Casino Pregame Show leading up to first pitch.

Check out the Northwest Arkansas Naturals Statistics

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



Texas League Stories from July 3, 2014


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central