Late rally comes up just short for Mules at PHC

PARK HILLS, Mo. — The Poplar Bluff Mules baseball team came achingly close to pulling off a come-from-behind win Monday against the Park Hills Central Rebels.

Held scoreless for the game’s first six innings, the Mules scored their only run after a walk, a hit and an error and had the go-ahead run in scoring position, but could come no closer in a 2-1 loss to PHC Monday.

It was the third loss in a row for Poplar Bluff (8-11).

Trailing 2-0 in the top of the seventh inning, Myles Johnson drew a leadoff walk and Dylan Bratcher followed up with a base hit to start the rally. After the next two batters were retired, Kolby Greenwall’s groundball was misplayed by the third baseman, allowing Johnson to score, Bratcher to end up at third and Greenwall at second.

With the Mules a hit away from tying the game or even taking the lead, PHC hurler Kendall Horton struck out the next batter to end the rally and the game.

The loss spoiled a great outing on the mound for David Durbin, who allowed two runs and six hits while striking out four and walking two in 5 1/3 innings of work.

The Rebels scored their only two runs in the bottom of the fourth inning when Casen Murphy and Barrett Henson each had RBI singles to snap a scoreless tie.

Kayson King had three hits on the day for Poplar Bluff.

The Mules host Oran at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday.

Lady Raiders take two from State Fair

With the Region 16 tournament just around the corner, the Three Rivers College softball team continues to gather needed momentum for the postseason.

The Lady Raiders picked up two more wins Monday by sweeping a doubleheader from State Fair at J.D. Rains Field. TRC took the opener 11-3 and then took the nightcap 8-1.

With Monday’s wins, Three Rivers (40-9) has won six in a row and is 20-2 in the month of April.

Pitching was the name of the game Monday for the Lady Raiders, as pitchers, A.J. Agers and Elly Eckrich combined to allow just one earned run between Monday’s two games.

Agers held the Lady Roadrunners to just two hits in the opener, striking out five and walking four while allowing no earned runs.

Trista Grobe led the Three Rivers offense in the opener, going 3-for-4 with two homers while driving in four runs. Ann-Marie Simpson added two hits and two RBIs, while Agers, Karlye Happold, Audrey Rahlmann and Jessica Hulsey each added a pair of hits.

TRC’s pitching again, dominated in the nightcap, as Eckrich struck out eight batters in six innings while allowing four hits, one run and one walk. Agers closed out the game with a 1-2-3 seventh inning.

Simpson had three hits, while Alyssa Bastien added two and Agers drove in a pair of runs.

The Lady Raiders are back in action today when they host Moberly Area for a twin bill in the home finale. First pitch is set for 2 p.m.

Raiders split twin bill with Jeffco

After the Three Rivers College baseball team split a twin bill at Jefferson College Saturday, the two teams played twice Sunday at Roger Pattillo Field. Jeffco took the opener 10-5, while the Raiders won the nightcap 14-13 in 10 innings.

With the score tied at 13 in the bottom of the 10th, Dalton Rudd led off the inning with a base hit, then Christian Cleary walked. Rudd was thrown out trying to score on Gavin Jansen’s single to right, but Peyton Nelson followed with a base hit to score Cleary with the winning run.

Jeffco took a 13-8 lead to the bottom of the ninth inning, but TRC (26-23) scored five times to tie the score and keep the game alive. Rudd and Cleary hit back-to-back solo homers to cut the deficit to 13-10, then Brady Robertson hit a ball up the middle that was misplayed by the second baseman, allowing Jansen and Nelson to score and make it a one-run game. Logan McIntyre then doubled Robertson home to tie the score and cap the rally.

Rudd and Cleary each had three hits in the nightcap, while Nelson and Jansen added a pair apiece. Jansen also homered and drove in three runs, while Cleary and Trent Buchanan each drove in a pair.

The Raiders managed just five hits in the opener as Jeffco made a strong start stand up. Buchanan drove in two runs, while McIntyre added a solo homer.

TRC is back in action Saturday for an afternoon doubleheader at Crowder.