ST. LOUIS – The Harris-Stowe softball team traveled to Holly Springs, Mississippi, to face the Bearcats of Rust College in a doubleheader. With delays and frigid temps, the day was a long one for the Hornets, however, it was not in vain. HSSU won 14-7 and 17-13, respectively.

Game One:

Harris-Stowe pushed the first runner home in the top of the first inning but Rust was able to score three in the bottom of the inning.  With another run scored in the top of the second and holding the Bearcats scoreless, the Hornets were closing the deficit. With a scoreless third for both teams, the Bearcats were clinging to 3-2 advantage entering the fourth.

And then Harris-Stowe's bats began to sing. With such a beautiful harmony, the Bearcats didn't notice the STING, until it was too late. In the top of the fourth, HSSU scored four runs and held RC to one in the bottom of the same inning. Standing at 6-4 entering the fifth, the ball game was heating up. Rust closed the gap to 6-5 by scoring once in bottom of the fifth. Unbothered, Harris-Stowe stung the Bearcats repeatedly in the sixth and seventh innings, resulting in three runs in the sixth and five in the seventh. Rust was able to muster up two in the bottom of the seventh, but their rally fell short.

HSSU finished with 14 runs on 16 hits and three errors. Cindy Sanchez took the victory for the Hornets in the circle.

Game Two:

In game two, Harris-Stowe cruised in on a high that the Bearcats quickly rattled. HSSU scored twice in the first and RC doubled it with four in the bottom of inning. In the second, the Hornets scored once. The Bearcats took off in the bottom of the second, scoring seven runs.

Much like the story of the tortoises and the hare, the Hornets continued to play their game. The third inning saw HSSU score three runs to cut into Rust's lead. A scoreless third for RC allowed more room for the Hornets to work. In the fourth, HSSU scored five runs to knot the game at 11. Rust was able to score once in the bottom of the inning to take the lead 12-11. In the sixth, the Hornets scored two to take the lead back (13-12) and the Bearcats tied it at 13-all in the bottom of the inning.

With a "new" contest entering the final regular inning, the Hornets knew it was now or never because the later it got the colder the temps dropped. HSSU scored four in the seventh and shut the Bearcats down in the bottom to secure their second win for the day and season.