Drillers Continue Rally For Potential Playoff Spot

NewsOn6.com

SPRINGDALE, Arkansas – The Drillers are making every game count in their monumental run at a final playoff spot.

Tulsa defeated Northwest Arkansas 5-4 in extra innings on Saturday, inching ever closer to catching up in the standings in hopes of making the postseason.

Even as recent as Monday, the playoffs seemed like more of a pipe dream for the Drillers.

But after five straight wins, Tulsa has found itself within three games of the top spot in the division for the second half playoff berth.

The first place team, ironically, is the Northwest Arkansas Naturals, whom the Drillers are in the midst of a three-game series with.

The Naturals started off Saturday's game quickly, taking a 3-0 lead in the first inning.

But Tulsa rallied back slowly and steadily, scoring no more than one run in any given inning in the game.

A double from Mike Zuanich eventually tied the game at 4 in the seventh inning, and neither team could end the game in regulation.

In the top of the 10th, however, Zuanich struck again, homering in the first at-bat of the extra innings to provide what would be the game-winning run.

Stephen Dodson picked up the win for Drillers, improving to 10-2 on the year.

The Drillers have nine games remaining to make up three games in the standings.

Five of those final nine games come against the first place Naturals.

The two teams will meet again Sunday at 6 p.m. in Springdale.