The Springfield Cardinals wanted to head into their four game series with Tulsa riding some momentum. They were on a five game winning streak and extending it to six wasn’t unrealistic. All the Cardinals had to do was finish off a sweep of the Arkansas Travelers who they were 10-3 against this season. Starter Rich Rundles was on the mound for Springfield and he was a decent 5-4. Unfortunately for the Cardinals, Rundles wasn’t decent enough; Arkansas avoided the sweep and broke its six-game losing streak winning 5-3 Wednesday.

Brandon Wood snapped a 2-2 tie with an RBI double in the fifth. He later came around to score as the next batter, Matthew Brown, singled to center.

Rundles got the loss allowing four runs – three earned – on nine hits in five innings.

Juan Richardson, Terry Evans, and Dan Moylan all had two hits and an RBI in the game for Springfield. Evans tied the game in the fourth with a home run to left. Since being called up six games ago, he’s hitting .500 with five homers and 13 RBIs.

Springfield heads into the four-game series with first place Tulsa one game back. They need to win three out of four to win the first-half Texas League North championship.