There's no place like home for the Springfield Cardinals.
After an 0-7 start to begin the season, Irving Lopez hit a walk-off two-run home run in the bottom of the ninth inning to give Springfield a thrilling 12-11 win in its home opener at Hammons Field over Northwest Arkansas.
The Naturals rallied twice throughout the game to threaten to spoil the night but the Cardinals kept responding.
Springfield looked as if it was going to cruise to victory when it grabbed the game's first four runs in the first three innings.