Northwest Arkansas Knocks Off Drillers, 7-3

Originally Published: May 11, 2010 12:27 AM CDT

Curt Hill
Oklahoma Sports Staff Writer

TULSA, Oklahoma -- Mike Montgomery pitched six strong innings as Northwest Arkansas topped the Tulsa Drillers 7-3 on Monday night.

Montgomery allowed just one run, issued two walks and struck out three in 82 pitches. Tulsa’s Keith Weiser took the loss after giving up ten hits and six runs in 4 2/3 innings.

Both teams waited out a rain delay that lasted just about an hour.

The Naturals jumped out to a 3-0 lead by scoring a run in three of the first four innings. Tim Smith got things started with an RBI double in the second. ClintRobinson and Chris McConnell followed with RBI singles in the third and fourth inning.

After Ryan Harvey cut the NWA lead to 3-1 with an RBI single in the bottom of the fourth, the Naturals exploded for three runs in the fifth inning and never looked back.

Mike Moustakas was 4-for-5 for the Naturals, who also got two hits each from Nick Van Stratten, Manny Pina, and Ernesto Mejia. Harvey went 2-4 with 2 RBI for the Drillers.

The series wraps up Tuesday as the Drillers and Naturals lockup in a 12 pm matchup.