Sparkman slows Springfield's sticks in Naturals win

SPRINGDALE, Ar. -- Naturals RHP Glenn Sparkman tossed a career-high 8.0 innings to help lead Northwest Arkansas past the Springfield Cardinals, 9-2, before 2,597 fans at Arvest Ballpark on Thursday night.

Springfield (14-11) seized the early advantage against Sparkman (W, 2-2) with a two-out rally in the top of the second inning. LF Victor Roache extended the stanza with a single, before racing all the way home on a booming RBI double from RF Blake Drake for the 1-0 lead.

Cardinals RHP Jake Woodford (L, 2-3) started with three scoreless innings, but Northwest Arkansas (9-17) broke through in the bottom of the fourth. With two on and one away, 1B Alex Liddi scorched an RBI double into the left field corner. A wild pitch brought in the second run of the frame, before Woodford battled back with a groundout for the inning's second out. However, C Luis Villegas reached on a SS Ramón Urías throwing error that brought in one run and led to a two-out RBI single by 3B Jecksson Flores, extending the Naturals lead to 4-1.

After the Naturals added an RBI single by DH Nick Dini in the fifth, the Cards responded with an RBI base hit from league-leader 1B John Nogowski in the sixth to bring Springfield back within three runs, 5-2.

However, Northwest Arkansas padded their lead with four insurance runs against the bullpen in the eighth, accounting for the eventual final score of 9-2.
Super-Soft Cardinals Nation T-Shirts, Artsfest Doubleheader, Free Pregame Ice Cream for Kids, Kids Run the Bases and more this weekend
The Cardinals close the road trip in NW Arkansas on Friday at 7:05pm. Catch all the action live on Jock 98.7 FM and SpringfieldCardinals.com, and tune in 15 minutes early for the Coyote's Sports Cafe Pregame Show.

Springfield then returns home for a four-game series against the Tulsa Drillers at Hammons Field from Saturday, May 5 - Tuesday, May 8. Don't miss any of the upcoming fun, including:

-Saturday, May 5, 6:10pm - Coca-Cola Super-Soft Cardinals Nation T-Shirt Giveaway (2,000), Missouri Lottery Baseball Bingo and the Artsfest Doubleheader ticket special, offering fans a ticket to Saturday's Cardinals game and admission to Artsfest on Historic Walnut 2018 on both Saturday and Sunday, all for just $12. To order your special Artsfest Doubleheader tickets, call 417-863-2143 by 5pm on Friday. Gates open at Hammons Field on Saturday at 5:10pm.

-Sunday, May 6, 2:10pm - Hiland Dairy Ice Cream Sunday, Kids Run the Bases and Baby's First Game Day with free pregame photos on the field. Gates open at 1:10pm.

-Monday, May 7, 11:10am - Day Baseball vs. the Drillers and the Mercy Kids Educational Day Program. Gates open at 10:10am.

-Tuesday, May 8, 6:30pm - Great Southern Bank $1 Dog Day. Gates open at 5:30pm.

For information about becoming a Season Ticket Holder, organizing a Group Outing, booking a Birthday Party or ordering Individual Game Tickets right now, call the Front Office at (417) 863-2143 or visit SpringfieldCardinals.com.
Click here for the full Promotional Schedule and to order your tickets right now.
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