A tough day for Jordan Balazovic.  Louie Varland and Jair Camargo carry the Kernels.

NORTHWEST ARKANSAS 7, WICHITA 5 IN NORTHWEST ARKANSAS

It was tied at four through six, but Brewer Hicklin homered in the seventh to put the Naturals ahead and Freddy Fermin provided insurance with a two-run single in the eighth.

Batting stars:  Leobaldo Cabrera was 2-for-4 with a home run, a double, and two RBIs.  Jermaine Palacios was 2-for-4 with a home run and two runs.  Austin Martin was 2-for-4 with a walk.  Roy Morales was 2-for-5.  D. J. Burt was 1-for-4 with a home run and a walk.

Pitching star:  Melvi Acosta pitched 1.1 scoreless innings, giving up a hit and a walk.  The Wind Surge used six pitchers, four of them for two-thirds of an inning.

Opposition stars:  Jimmy Govern was 3-for-5 with two runs.  Meibrys Viloria was 2-for-2 with three walks and two runs.  Hicklin was 2-for-4 with a home run.

Starter:  Jordan Balazovic pitched 3.2 innings, allowing four runs on six hits and four walks and striking out three.

Record:  The Wind Surge trails the best-of-five series 0-1.

CEDAR RAPIDS 2, QUAD CITIES 1 IN CEDAR RAPIDS

Jair Camargo homered with two out in the eighth for the deciding run.

Batting star:  Camargo was 2-for-3 with a home run, a double, a walk, and two runs.

Pitching stars:  Louie Varland pitched seven innings, giving up one run on six hits and a walk and striking out four.  Osiris German pitched a perfect inning.  Zach Featherstone struck out three in a scoreless inning, giving up one hit.

Opposition stars:  Nick Loftin was 2-for-4.  A. J. Block pitched five innings, giving up one run on five hits and a walk and striking out three.

Record:  The Kernels lead the best-of-five series 1-0.

TODAY'S TILTS*

6:30  Wichita (Cole Sands) at Northwest Arkansas
6:35  Quad Cities at Cedar Rapids (Sean Mooney)
7:05  Iowa at St. Paul (Derek Law, 1-0, 2.66)

Wichita and Cedar Rapids are in the playoffs.  St. Paul continues its regular season.