Lady Raiders sweep East Central, on three-game winning streak

The Three Rivers College softball team finds itself on a three-game winning streak after winning two more games Monday at East Central.

The Lady Raiders took Monday’s opener 6-1 and the nightcap 10-2 to improve to 30-20 on the season.

TRC also split a doubleheader Saturday against Jefferson at J.D. Rains field, with the Vikings rallying to take Saturday’s opener 8-7 before the Lady Raiders won the nightcap 7-4.

In Saturday’s opener, Three Rivers led 7-4 going to the top of the seventh inning when the Vikings rallied for four runs to take the lead. Alexi Sanchez singled in Camryn Sharp for the inning’s first run to cut the TRC lead to 7-5, then after an error prolonged the inning, Chloe Krans hit a pitch over the centerfield fence for a three-run homer and an 8-7 Jeffco lead.

The Lady Raiders went down in order in the bottom of the seventh inning.

Three Rivers took an early 4-0 lead as it scored four runs in the bottom of the first inning. Gracie Wright singled and later scored on an error for the game’s first run, then Camryn Casey singled home Alyssa Bastien to make it 2-0. Natalie Wilks capped the rally by knocking a 1-0 pitch over the rightfield fence for a two-run homer and a 4-0 lead.

After the Vikings hit a pair of two-run homers in the top of the third inning to tie the score at 4-4, TRC retook the lead at 5-4 when Casey scored on Clara Rahlmann’s sacrifice fly in the bottom of the third. Three Rivers added solitary runs in the fourth and sixth innings to take a 7-4 lead.

The loss wasted a solid pitching performance by Emma Crabb. The freshman lefthander struck out 14 batters while allowing five earned runs, 10 hits and two walks.

Wright and Lexi Davis each had two hits in the loss, while Wright and Wilks each drove in two runs.

In Saturday’s nightcap, the Lady Raiders snapped a 3-3 tie with a four-run rally in the bottom of the fourth inning, all with two out. Davis singled home Olivia Crabb for the go-ahead run, then Josie Bezzole hit a bases-loaded double to score Davis, Madelyn Hefner and Tori Stinnett for a 7-3 lead.

TRC also scored three runs in the bottom of third inning after trailing 1-0 early, getting sacrifice flies from Davis and Wright which were sandwiched around Bezzole reaching on an error and moving to third on a pair of wild pitches.

Wilks started and earned the win, going 5 1/3 innings while allowing four runs, seven hits and three walks while striking out four. Emma Crabb tossed the final 1 2/3 innings to earn the save.

Emma Crabb tossed a four-hitter in Monday’s opener, striking out eight and allowing just one run and three walks.

Bezzole, Casey and Davis all homered in the game, with Bezzole and Rahlmann each adding three hits and Alyssa Bastien adding a pair. Bezzole and Casey each drove in two runs.

In Monday’s nightcap, Davis and Wright each had three hits, while Casey added a pair. Davis drove in three runs, while Casey and Wright drove in two apiece.

Wilks earned the win, allowing one earned run in six innings while striking out seven.

The Lady Raiders are back in action Tuesday when they head to Arkansas State for a doubleheader. First pitch is set for 2 p.m.