Cardinals fall 4-1 to Naturals in second half of doubleheader

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- For the first time all season, the Cardinals have lost a home series.

Northwest Arkansas took Game 2 of Sunday's doubleheader at Hammons Field 4-1 over Springfield in front of 4,582 fans, just under three hours after winning Game 1 to the tune of a 6-3 final.

The loss dropped Springfield a half game behind the first-place Tulsa Drillers in a Texas League North that currently has all four members separated by two games or fewer.

The Naturals drew first blood with a three-run homer in the first off the bat of Alex Liddi.

Springfield starter Jacob Evans settled down after Liddi's home run, allowing just a single hit over the next four innings. Evans (0-3) tossed five strong innings in his first start of the season, striking out five while allowing three hits and a walk.

Edmundo Sosa doubled home Tommy Edman to cut the Naturals lead to 3-1 in the bottom of the third.

Jecksson Flores gave the Naturals an insurance run with a solo shot over the fence in left in the sixth.

Sosa finished with five of Springfield's 13 hits over the two games.

Springfield has struggled to produce runs since coming home from a nine-game road trip, scoring just seven in the first four games of this series.

UP NEXT

The Cardinals and Naturals close out their five-game series on Monday at 11:10am, so join us at Hammons Field for a nine-inning lunch and enjoy some Day Baseball to kick off your week.