The Harris-Stowe State University baseball team was back in action this afternoon when they traveled to Parkville, Missouri, to take on the Park (Mo.) University Pirates in the first two games of a four game series. The Hornets were able to sweep the doubleheader as they won the first game by a final score of 9-4 and the second game by a final score of 15-10 to improve to 2-2 on the season. With the losses, the Pirates fall to 0-6 on the year.
The Hornets got off to a good start in the first game of the doubleheader as they scored three runs in the top of the second to take an early 3-0 lead. The Pirates battled back and were able to score one run in the bottom of the second and two runs in the bottom of the fourth to tie the score at three heading into the fifth. Harris-Stowe’s bats came alive in the top of the seventh and were able to rally for six runs in the frame to take a 9-3 lead late in the contest. The Pirates scored a run in the bottom of the seventh to cut the lead to 9-4, but that was as close as they would get as the Hornets picked up the final outs to solidify the win.
Raul Alvarez (0-0) was the starting pitcher in this one as he allowed three hits and two earned runs while striking out one in 3.2 innings of work. Brian Myers (1-0) and Cam Fuller (0-0) came in to relieve Alvarez as the two combined to allow one hit while striking out five in the final 3.1 innings of the game. Will Crooker led the way for the Hornets at the plate as he went 2-for-4 with a homerun and four RBI. In addition to Crooker, Matt Janocik had two RBI, Alec Sierra had an RBI, Louie Castellanos had an RBI, and Turner McDonald had an RBI to round out the top performers for the Hornets.
In the second game of the doubleheader, the Pirates got on the board first as they scored a run in the bottom of the first inning to take a 1-0 lead. The Hornets responded quickly and were able to score two runs in the top of the second, one run in the top of the third, and four runs in the top of the fourth to take a 7-1 advantage. The Pirates battled back and were able to score three runs in the bottom of the fourth, but another three run rally from the Hornets in the top of the sixth put them up 10-4 late in the game. The Pirates responded by scoring six runs in the bottom of the sixth, but a five run rally from the Hornets in the top of the seventh solidified the win for the Harris-Stowe.
Ethan Wallace (0-0) was the starting pitcher in this one as he allowed five hits and three earned runs while striking out four in 4.0 innings on the mound. Tomas Pinet Jr. (0-0), Dajuan Griffin (0-1), and Tommy Benner (1-0) all came in to relieve Wallace as the three combined to allow five hits and six earned runs while striking out one in the final 3.0 innings of the contest. Will Menendez led the way at the plate as he went 2-for-2 with a homerun and three RBI. In addition to Menendez, Matt Janocik went 3-for-5 with five RBI, Davie Pound went 2-for-3 with two RBI, Bay To went 2-for-3 with two RBI, and Turner McDonald went 2-for-2 with two RBI to round out the top performers for the Hornets.