A year ago, the SEC’s top two softball teams, Houston and Southland, played each other three times. The SEC champion Rebels came out on top in all three affairs, 6-1, 6-4, and 2-0. The later loss came in the play-offs and ended Houston’s season. In the teams’ first meeting this year, Josh Swenson’s Hurricanes finally got a win over the Rebels. In a 3-3 game in the fifth inning, Hurricane seventh grader Kylie Stinson authored an RBI single with two on. The throw home was late. A subsequent throw to third base was then errant, allowing two more runs to score (including Stinson). The big play put Houston ahead 6-3. The Rebels then got a runner on base in each of the following three innings, but never brought the tying run to the plate. Houston handed Southland its first loss via a 6-3 final. The youngster Stinson (2-3, 3 RBI, R), Julia Swenson (2-4, RBI, 2 R), and Caidence Frauenkron (2-3) each collected two hits. Lead-off Olivia Yohe (1-2, 3 R, two BBs) scored half of Houston’s run. Emily Botcher (7 IP, 7 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 3 K) toughed out the win. Laney Weis (2-4, 7 IP, 5 H, 6 R, 1 ER, 5 BB, 6 K, Loss) and Riana Ulven (2-3) led the Rebels. Southland did not have an RBI. Weis walked five to Botcher’s two. Five of Houston’s six runs were unearned, as the Rebels had four errors, Houston one. The win has the Hurricanes (5-0, 5-3) leading the SEC over the Rebels (2-1, 4-1). Houston dropped their other game on the week versus Goodhue 5-4 (See “Non-Conference Softball”). Of note, Stinson has 17 hits in 27 at bats (.630) and Swenson is 13 of 23 (.565).