Hooks hang on for 5-3 win

Springfield, MO - The Springfield Cardinals plated three in the eighth, but the Corpus Christi Hooks escaped with a 5-3 win before 3,058 fans at Hammons Field on Sunday evening.

The Hooks (3-1) charged in front with a pair of runs in the top of the second inning against RHP Sam Gaviglio (L, 0-1). DH Preston Tucker led off with a double, before C Tyler Heineman was hit by a pitch. After a fly out, 1B MP Cokinos drove in Tucker with an RBI single that also moved Heineman to third. SS Jio Mier doubled the early lead with an RBI ground out to second, making it 2-0.

Corpus Christi plated a pair more in the top of the third inning. 2B Nolan Fontana and RF Andrew Aplin started the stanza with consecutive walks, before Gaviglio struck out 3B Matt Duffy. Tucker, though, struck with an RBI double, followed later in the inning by another RBI single from Cokinos, increasing the lead to 4-0.

After the Hooks tacked on one more in the top of the eighth, the Cardinals (1-3) bats woke up in the bottom of the frame. LF Mike O'Neill and 2B Greg Miclat sparked the charge with back-to-back singles to start the inning. DH Aledmys Diaz then ripped a two-run double inside the third base line that brought in both runners and got the Cardinals on the board. RHP Jordan Jankowski took over on the mound and dealt a strikeout to 1B Jonathan Rodriguez, but C Cody Stanley followed with a single that moved Diaz to third. RF James Ramsey then came in as a pinch hitter and drove an RBI single through the left side of the infield, scoring Diaz and bringing Springfield within two runs, 5-3.

The Cardinals threatened to complete the comeback in the bottom of the ninth, getting men at the corners, but RHP Travis Ballew (S, 1) worked out of trouble to close the 5-3 win for Corpus Christi. LHP Tommy Shirley (W, 1-0) logged the win, tossing five scoreless innings for the Hooks.

Click here for the complete box score from Sunday's game.

Cardinals continue the series on Monday night, before Morning Baseball on Tuesday!

The Cardinals host the Hooks on Monday night at 7:10pm, before wrapping up the series with morning baseball on Tuesday. First Pitch on Tuesday will be 11:10am for the CoxHealth Healthy Living Educational Day and Cardinals Leadership Forum. Tuesday is also a Great Southern Bank $1 Dog Day, so join us for lunch! Gates open at 10:10am.

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