Tulsa took game one of Thursday’s doubleheader against the Northwest Arkansas Naturals with a 6-1 win at ONEOK Field in Tulsa.
Chris Newell paced the Drillers’ offense, going 2-for-3 with a two-run homer in the sixth inning. He also scored twice and stole a base. Zyhir Hope added two hits and drove in a run while also swiping a bag. Their efforts helped Tulsa jump out to a 4-0 lead through four innings and ultimately cruise to victory.
On the mound, Tulsa starter Adam Serwinowski (3-2) allowed just two hits over 5 1/3 innings, striking out eight and walking three. The Naturals managed only a pair of hits through the first five frames, with Colton Becker’s sixth-inning single marking their second of the game. Sam Kulasingam drew a walk to put two runners on with one out, but a wild pitch and a strikeout ended the threat quickly.
Rain Halts Second Game
The second game of the twin bill — a makeup for Wednesday’s rainout — was called off again due to weather before it began. As of press time, no new date had been set for the contest.
With the win, Tulsa improves to 27-19 and has now won eight of its last 11 games. The Naturals fall to 22-23 and have lost eight of their last 11.
Honestly, it’s always a little wild to see how quickly a game can unravel, especially on the road. The Naturals have shown they can hang with most teams this season, but Tulsa’s pitching and timely hitting proved to be the difference on Thursday. Serwinowski’s dominance on the mound, paired with Newell’s power, gave the Drillers control early and often.
Look, this is the kind of game that reminds you how much momentum can shift a series. The Naturals have been scrappy and competitive all year, but they’ll need to find a way to get things going offensively in the second game whenever it’s rescheduled. It’s not like they’re getting blown out every night — they’ve been in a lot of close games — but breaking through against quality pitching has been a challenge lately.
For fans keeping up from home, the Naturals are still very much in the hunt. They’re just five games out of first in their division, and with a few series wins, they could easily climb back into the top spot. That said, games like this one against Tulsa — a team also fighting for position — are where seasons can be defined.
It’s also worth remembering that baseball in NWA doesn’t always get the spotlight it deserves. These guys are working hard, playing in front of solid crowds when they can, and representing the region with a lot of pride. A lot of these players are just a few steps away from the majors, and the fact that we get to watch them play in our own backyard is something special. Honestly, you’d pay twice as much to see this kind of talent in a city like Dallas or Denver.
If you’re a regular at Arvest Ballpark, or even if you’ve just caught a game or two on the radio, you know the Naturals bring energy and hustle. They’ve had some great moments this season, and there’s still plenty of baseball left to play.
Source: NWA Democrat Gazette
