ST. LOUIS – The Harris-Stowe baseball team fell 24-17 in the rubber contest versus the Central Baptist College Mustangs.
The first, sixth and eighth innings were the only scoreless innings for both teams. CBC started the scoring in the top of the second, with three runs. It was a homerun over the left field fence by Austin Palacios that landed the Hornets on the scoreboard, in the bottom of the inning. In the third, the Mustangs were off, scoring six runs. Undeterred, Harris-Stowe scored three in the bottom of the same inning. Will Menendez scored when Palacios (Austin) reached first on a fielder's choice. Alex Rodriguez scored on a wild pitch followed by Cam Pratt reaching home plate on a single by Alex Lopez.
The fourth was slow for both as the Mustangs slid in one runner and the runner weren't able to score in the bottom of the inning. The fifth, things began to get hotter as CBC pushed eight runners in. HSSU scored three runners in the inning. A single to center field by Ben Kurkowski pushed Pratt home. Davie Pound reached on a fielder's choice allowing Kurkowski to advance home. A single by Menendez pushed Alek Sierra across the plate to score. The fifth inning was flipped in the seventh as Central Baptist scored three runs and the Hornets ran up eight.
Picture the bases being loaded and Menendez is hit by pitch, with everyone advancing a base, Sierra scored. Zach Lopez reached first on a fielder's choice and Derek Rivera scored. Jordan Palacios grounded out to the shortstop but it was just enough to push Pound home. A single by Kurkowski scored Rodriguez. Lopez (Alex) singled to score Pratt. Sierra (Alek) stepped into the batter's box with Lopez and Kurkowski waiting for an opportunity to score and he gave it to them in the form of a homer over the left field fence. It all came down to the ninth inning. CBC scored three and held the Hornets to two, ending a phenomenal rally. A double to right by Rivera scored Kurkowski and Pratt.
Tomas Pinet, Jr., took the loss for the Hornets on the mound. Harris-Stowe will travel to Columbia, Mo., to face Columbia College (Mo.) in the final regular season conference series, April 27th and 28th.
