Cards score 12 a night after being two-hit

Springfield, MO - The Springfield Cardinals scored 12 runs over the first six innings on Saturday night, which paced them to a 12-7 win over the Arkansas Travelers at Hammons Field.

The 19 combined runs in the game came thanks to 19 hits, 14 walks and three errors.

Cardinals nine hitter 2B Mason Katz went 3-for-3 with two home runs, four runs scored, a walk and two RBIs.

Springfield plated three runs in the first inning, but Arkansas countered with four in the second, including 1B Eric Aguilera's 11th home run of the season. The Travs 4-3 lead was immediately erased when Katz led off the second with his first of the two longballs to tie the game 4-4.

After the Travs took the 4-3 lead, Springfield scored eight consecutive runs.

Arkansas LF Jabari Henry crushed another homerun, his seventh over the last 10 games. Both he and Aguilera are tied for the Travs team lead with 11.

Aguilera finished 2-for-5 with the home run and two runs scored and is 9-for-13 over his last three games with two home runs, two doubles, five runs scored and four RBIs.

CF Forrestt Allday contributed his first Arkansas RBI and finished 2-for-3 with a walk, his first multi-hit game with the Travs as well.

3B Angel Rosa finished 2-for-3 with two runs and a walk.

Travs starter RHP Alex Blackford (L, 3-4) lasted three innings and allowed four runs on six hits with two walks and a strikeouts.

RHP Danny Reynolds and RHP Zach Nuding combined to throw 96 pitches over three innings for Arkansas after Blackford.

RHP Austin Adams and RHP DJ Johnson worked 1-2-3 eighth and ninth innings, respectively.

Springfield SS Bruce Caldwell finished 3-for-5 with two doubles and three RBIs.

With the loss, Arkansas fell to 33-41 on the season and 1-3 in the second half.

The two teams will conclude the three-game series on Sunday afternoon at Hammons Field, the final game leading up to the All-Star Break. First pitch is scheduled for 2:10 p.m.