Raiders get sweep of Metropolitan

For the first time in a while, the Three Rivers College baseball team swept a four-game series over the weekend against a Region 16 opponent.

The Raiders took all four games against the Metropolitan Wolves, sweeping a pair of doubleheaders Saturday and Sunday at Roger Pattillo Field. TRC won 7-4 and 7-0, respectively, on Saturday, then took Sunday’s opener 8-4 before winning 18-11 in the nightcap.

The Raiders (20-7) trailed 4-3 in Saturday’s opener before rallying for four runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to take the lead for good.

TRC pounded out 15 hits in the contest, led by three hits from Tanner Duncan and two apiece from Manny Alberton, Trey Fikes, Mason Krznarich, Cooper McClure and Brady Robertson. Robertson also drove in a pair of runs.

Colton Sims started on the hill and went the distance, allowing just four hits, one earned run and one walk while striking out seven.

In Saturday’s nightcap, Dorian Lippens and Tyler Vincent combined on a two-hit shutout. Lippens started and went seven innings, striking out eight while walking four and allowing one hit, then Lippens pitched two innings of one-hit ball to complete the shutout.

Eli Marvin had three hits, while Alberto and Peyton Nelson each had a pair. Marvin, Alberto and Krznarich each drove in two runs, while Krznarich homered.

The Raiders won Sunday with a four-run rally in the bottom of the sixth inning, snapping a 4-4 tie. Robertson and Duncan each had two hits, while Duncan homered and drove in three runs.

Hayden Cuthbertson tossed 1 2/3 innings of scoreless relief for the win. Stuart Tharle started and went five innings, striking out six and allowing eight hits, two walks and four runs.

Three Rivers won a slugfest in Sunday’s second game, snapping an 11-11 tie with a run in the bottom of the seventh inning and adding six more in the bottom of the eighth.

Fikes led the Raiders with four hits, while Krznarich and Marvin each had three hits and Alberto, Duncan and Grant Fitch each had two. Krznarich homered and drove in six runs, while Robertson drove in three and Duncan drove in a pair.

TRC is slated to play a doubleheader Tuesday at Southwestern Illinois College in Belleville, Illinois. First pitch is set for noon.

__SOFTBALL SPLITS WITH GRIZZLIES__

The Three Rivers Lady Raiders softball team split a home doubleheader Saturday against Missouri State-West Plains at J.D. Rains Field. TRC shut out the Grizzlies 1-0 in the opener, then West Plains returned the favor in the nightcap with a 4-0 win.

Elly Eckrich was strong in the opener, limiting the Grizzlies to just two hits and two walks in the opener while striking out 10.

Josie Bezzole scored the game’s lone run in the bottom of the third when Lexi Davis drove her in, and Clara Rahlmann had two hits to pace TRC.

In the nightcap, two West Plains pitchers combined to limit the Lady Raiders to three hits while also keeping them off the scoreboard.

Emma Crabb took the loss despite striking out 11 and walking none in the complete-game loss.

The Lady Raiders head to Jefferson Tuesday for a doubleheader. First pitch is set for 2 p.m.