The Midland RockHounds matched their highest offensive output in more than a week Tuesday night, collecting 15 hits in a 10-3 victory over the Northwest Arkansas Naturals at Arvest Ballpark, according to a Rockhounds press release.
The win, combined with losses by Frisco and Amarillo, moved Midland into sole possession of first place in the Texas League South Division first-half standings.
The RockHounds broke the game open with a six-run third inning and added three more runs in the seventh to build a 9-0 lead.
Midland starter Jamie Arnold earned the win after pitching a career-high seven scoreless innings. Arnold allowed four hits and two walks while striking out four.
Carlos Pacheco started the third-inning rally with a leadoff double and later scored the game’s first run on an RBI single by Cole Conn. After Northwest Arkansas right fielder Spencer Nivens prevented extra bases on a drive by Leo De Vries, Midland continued the inning with two outs.
Conn scored from first base on Bobby Boser’s double to left-center field before Ryan Lasko followed with a two-run home run to left field, extending the lead to 4-0. Euribiel Angeles was hit by a pitch later in the inning, and Cameron Leary followed with a double before Justin Reimer capped the rally with a two-run single.
Every Midland starter contributed offensively, either scoring a run, driving in a run or recording a hit.
Leary and De Vries led the offense with three hits apiece. De Vries also drove in two runs. Conn finished 2-for-6 with two RBIs and extended his hitting streak to 13 games, tying the longest streak in the Texas League this season.
Lasko’s home run highlighted an offensive resurgence for Midland, which had scored just 14 runs over its previous eight games entering the series opener.
Leary also continued a recent turnaround at the plate. After entering the Amarillo series with two hits in his previous 43 at-bats, he recorded three hits Tuesday in five plate appearances.
The victory improved Midland to 28-24 on the season. The RockHounds entered Wednesday’s action with a one-game lead in the South Division race as the first-half pennant chase entered its final weeks.