Hooks take finale from Cards, 5-2

Corpus Christi, TX - The Corpus Christi Hooks held on for the 5-2 victory against the Springfield Cardinals before 5,274 fans at Whataburger Field on Saturday night.

The Hooks (2-1) moved in front right away in the bottom of the first frame against LHP Anthony Ferrara (L, 0-1).  With one away, CF George Springer drove a solo shot over the left field fence, giving the Hooks the early 1-0 lead.

Corpus Christi stretched the advantage with three runs in the bottom of the fifth.  With one out, Springer got all the way to second base on a two-base fielding miscue by 1B Xavier Scruggs. Facing LHP Dean Kiekhefer, SS Jiovanni Mier plated Springer with an RBI single.  Later in the inning, Mier trotted in on a two-run homer by RF Domingo Santana, putting the Hooks up, 4-0.

Springfield (1-2) swung back into the game in a hurry with back-to-back blasts to start the top of the seventh.  Scruggs crushed the first one over the left field wall, before Melker followed right away with a blast to right field, making it just a 4-2 deficit.

However, the Hooks found an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth inning.  With two away and LHP Kevin Siegrist on the hill, 3B Jonathan Meyer knocked a solo home run over the left-center field wall, accounting for the eventual final score of 5-2 in the Hooks win.  RHP Asher Wojciechowski (W, 1-0) tossed five scoreless innings to log the win for Corpus Christi.

The Cardinals kick off a three-game set in San Antonio against the Missions this Sunday at 2:05 p.m. Due to the Division II Men's Basketball Championship Game, Sunday's Cardinals game will be broadcast live on KBFL 99.9FM and SpringfieldCardinals.com.