Drillers Fall To NW Arkansas

A 3-0 deficit was too big a hole for the Drillers to escape Saturday night as Tulsa dropped a 5-2 decision at NW Arkansas.

The Naturals (5-10) turned a 1-0 lead into 3-0 when Rey Navarro's third-inning double drove in two. Kiel Roling's RBI single in the top of the fourth got the Drillers (7-8) on the board, and Rafael Ortega's single scored Jayson Langfels one inning later to cut the lead to 3-2.

But NW Arkansas took control again in the sixth when Brett Eibner's RBI double gave the Naturals a 4-2 advantage. The next batter was Angel Franco, whose single drove Eibner home to go up 5-2.

Justin Marks (1-0) allowed just one earned run in 5.1 innings for NW Arkansas to earn the win. Tyler Matzek (0-1) allowed three runs in 4.2 innings to take the loss for Tulsa.

The Drillers will try to split the four-game road series Sunday afternoon at 2 p.m.