Alex McCoy’s RBI single in the bottom of the 11th inning gave the San Antonio Missions a 6-5 walkoff victory over the Northwest Arkansas Naturals Thursday night at Nelson Wolff Stadium.
The game was tied 4-4 after nine innings, with both teams adding a run in the 10th. The Naturals (18-30 in the second half, 47-68 overall) failed to score in the top of the 11th, setting the stage for the Missions (23-25, 54-63) to complete the comeback.
San Antonio started the 11th inning with Jack Costello on second base courtesy of the tiebreaker rule. After one out, Costello advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt. Northwest Arkansas intentionally walked the next two batters, creating force plays at every base, but McCoy delivered the game-winning hit, bringing Costello home.
Northwest Arkansas jumped out to an early lead in the first inning. Omar Hernandez singled with one out, moved to third base on Sam Kulasingam’s double, and scored on a groundout by Jorge Alfaro.
San Antonio responded immediately in the bottom of the first, plating three runs. Ryan Jackson hit a two-run double and later scored on Costello’s RBI single, putting the Missions ahead 3-1.
The Naturals chipped away at that lead in the fourth inning. Kulasingam opened with a double and scored on Daniel Vazquez’s RBI double, narrowing the margin to 3-2.
The game continued with back-and-forth scoring through the later innings, leading to the tied score at the end of regulation. Northwest Arkansas finished the night with a total of five runs, while San Antonio managed six.
This loss extends the Naturals’ struggles in the second half of their season, as their record dips further below .500. San Antonio’s victory moves them closer to an even split for the half-season, maintaining hopes for a postseason push.
Source: NWA Democrat Gazette
