Arms shine for Lady Raiders in victories

The Three Rivers College softball team turned in its best weekend of the season as it took three of four games against Metropolitan and Dyersburg State Saturday and Sunday.

The Lady Raiders took a pair of games Saturday at home against Metropolitan, winning 8-0 and 4-1, respectively, then split a twin bill at Dyersburg State Sunday. TRC took the opener 11-7, but dropped the nightcap 9-2.

In Saturday’s opener against Metropolitan, Elly Eckrich was dominant in the circle, shutting out the visiting Wolves on one hit while striking out eight and walking three.

Meanwhile, the Lady Raider offense gave Eckrich all the support she needed and then some with two runs in the bottom of the first inning, four more in the third and two more in the fifth to enforce the eight-run mercy rule.

Alyssa Bastien had two hits — including a solo homer in the bottom of the fifth inning — and drove in three runs, while Abi Jorgensen hit a two-run homer in the bottom of the third inning.

In Saturday’s nightcap, Emma Crabb took her turn dominating on the rubber, striking out 13 and walking none while tossing a three-hitter.

Three Rivers scored two runs on a pair of errors in the bottom of the first inning, then got back-to-back solo homers from Camryn Casey and Josie Bezzole to lead off the bottom of the sixth after the Wolves made it a one-run game in the top of the inning.

After riding their pitchers’ arms to two wins Saturday, the Lady Raiders used their bats to win Sunday’s opener.

Trailing 7-6 going to the bottom of the fourth inning, TRC rallied to take the lead for good. Natalie Wilks singled home Casey to tie the score, then Lexi Davis doubled home Bezzole and Wilks to go in front 9-7. Davis then capped the fourth-inning rally when Clara Rahlmann’s line drive was misplayed.

Davis had two hits in the game and also drove in three runs to lead Three Rivers, while Bastien also added another solo homer.

Eckrich started and earned the win, striking out seven and allowing one earned run in four innings of work. Crabb tossed three innings of scoreless relief to pick up the save.

It was a different story in the nightcap as the host Eagles scored six runs in the bottom of the fourth inning to break open a close game.

Casey had two hits in the loss, while Kodie Van Eycke drove in both TRC runs.

Wilks started and took the loss, allowing eight hits, one walk and one earned run in six innings of work while striking out seven. The Lady Raiders committed eight errors in the field behind her, allowing Dyersburg State to score eight unearned runs.

Three Rivers (18-12) is back in action Wednesday afternoon as it hosts North Central Missouri for the first two games of a four-game series. First pitch is set for noon.

__Baseball drops pair at St. Charles__

The Three Rivers Raiders baseball team did not do as well on the diamond Saturday at St. Charles, dropping two games to the host Cougars. The Raiders dropped the opener 5-4 and lost 12-2 in the nightcap.

TRC (22-11) scored four runs in the top of the fifth inning in the opener to take a 4-1 lead, but the Cougars matched the feat in the bottom of the inning to retake the lead — and eventually the win.

Mason Krznarich had three hits in the game, while Manny Alberto and Cooper McClure each had a pair.

Stuart Tharle started and took the loss despite allowing just one earned run in 4 1/3 innings of work. He struck out six while allowing four hits and four walks.

In the nightcap, the Cougars scored seven runs in the bottom of the third inning to break that contest wide open.

McClure and Peyton Nelson each had a pair of hits.

St. Charles pounded out 14 hits against four Raiders pitchers.

Three Rivers is slated to play at Dyersburg State Tuesday afternoon. First pitch is set for 2 p.m.