ST. LOUIS, Mo. – The Harris-Stowe State University baseball team was back in action yesterday when they traveled to Missouri Baptist University to take on the Spartans in an AMC doubleheader. The Hornets were swept in the doubleheader as they lost the first game by a final score of 8-5 and the second game by a final score of 13-3 to fall to 11-20 on the season and 7-13 in the American Midwest Conference. With the sweep, the Spartans improve to 27-14 on the season and 19-7 in the AMC

In the first game of the doubleheader, the Hornets put together eight hits in the contest. The Spartans came out and scored two runs in the bottom of the first to jump out to an early lead. The Hornets answered back and scored a run in the top of the second, but anther run from the Spartans put them up 3-1 heading into the third. The Hornets continued to put the ball in play as the game progressed and scored two runs in the top of the fourth and one run in the top of the fifth to take a 4-3 advantage. However, the Spartans scored five runs over the next two innings to take an 8-4 lead late in the contest. Harris-Stowe picked up a run in the top of the seventh but that was as close as they would get as the Spartans picked up the final outs to solidify the win.

Raul Alvarez (1-5) was the starting pitcher in this one as he allowed five hits and five earned runs while striking out two in 4.0 innings on the mound. Brian Myers and James Shaw came in to relieve Alvarez as the two combined to allow two hits and three earned runs while striking out three in the final 2.0 innings of the game. Alek Sierra led the way at the plate as he went 2-for-4 with a homerun and two RBI. In addition, Will Crooker went 1-for-2 with two RBI and a homerun, Bay To went 2-for-3 with two runs scored, and Matt Janocik went 1-for-4 with an RBI to round out the top performers for the Hornets.

In the second game of the doubleheader, the Hornets put together nine hits in the contest. The Spartans got off to a quick start as they scored five runs in the first and three runs in the second to jump out to an 8-0 lead. The Hornets responded by scoring a run in the top of the third, but another run from the Spartans in the fifth put them up 9-1 in the game. The Hornets and Spartans exchanged two runs each in the sixth, but another two runs from the Spartans in the bottom of the seventh solidified the two game sweep.

Armando Sierra (2-5) was the starting pitcher in this one as he allowed four hits and three earned runs in 0.1 innings on the mound. Cam Fuller, Matt Gilbers, and Logan Dryden came in to relieve Sierra as the three combined to allowed 11 hits and eight earned runs while striking out four in the final 6.2 innings of the game. Turner McDonald led the way at the plate as he went 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored. In addition, Will Menendez went 1-for-3 with two RBI and Bay To went 2-for-2 with a run scored to round out the top performers for the Hornets.

The Hornets will return to the diamond this afternoon when they take on the Spartans for the final two games of a four game series. The first game is set to start at noon with the second game to follow. No visiting team spectators will be allowed to attend.