The Springfield Cardinals began their second season with a 5-4 loss to Arkansas at Hammons Field in Springfield Tuesday. The Cardinals took a 1-0 lead in the second inning, when Jarrett Hoffpauir flew out to center and Brian Martin, scored from third base.
Arkansas bounced back in the third inning with a three-run rally. Aaron Peel drove in a run with a single and Brandon Wood made it 3-1 with a two-run homer.
The Cardinals tied the game with runs in the fifth and sixth. Reid Gorecki’s RBI single in the fifth made it 3-2 and Iker Franco’s infield single scored Joffpauir to tie the game at 3-3.
The Travelers took the lead back for good in the top of the seventh with Wood’s RBI double. He finished with three RBI’s.
Springfield reliever Chris Russ allowed two runs in the seventh inning and was charged with the loss.