Arkansas Comeback Snaps Drillers Winning Streak

After posting one of its best records for the month of April, the Tulsa Drillers started May with a loss, falling on the road to Arkansas 3-2.

The Drillers led for most of the contest, but a strong eighth inning by the Travelers left Tulsa shorthanded.

Tulsa opened the scoring in the second. Ben Paulsen lead off with a walk and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Kiel Roling connected on a ground out that advanced Paulsen to third. Mike Zuanich managed a single to centerfield that plated Paulsen giving the Drillers a 1-0 advantage.

Later in the fifth, Roling started things off with a double to centerfield. Two ground outs later Angelys Nina reached first on a throwing error by Arkansas third baseman Renny Osuna that allowed Roling to score and make it 2-0.

Even though Arkansas had yet to score, it didn't take long for the Drillers lead to diminish.

Tulsa sent in Michael Marbry in to relieve Joey Williamson in the eighth. With two outs, Arkansas Jean Segura was struck by a pitch. Osuna then connected on a single to right putting two runners on before Matt Long singled to score Segura cutting Tulsa's lead to 2-1.

But the Travelers weren't finished. With one out, Casey Haerther stepped to the plate and blasted a long ball to center field that was caught by Tulsa's Tim Torres, but not before Osuna and Long scored to win the game 3-2.

Eddie McKieran picked up the win for Arkansas, his second of the season. Steven Geltz is credited with the save pitching one inning with one strikeout.

Tulsa starter Nick Schmidt went 5.2 innings allowing three hits while striking out five. Marbry gets the loss for the Drillers after finishing with one inning of relief allowing three hits and three runs to score with no strikeouts.

Zuanich paced Tulsa from the plate going 1-for-3 with one RBI on the night.

The Drillers will play game two on the road against the Travelers Wednesday at 11 a.m.