TAMPA, Fla., — The Raiders' first big inning of the season and best offensive game of the year was sparked by a fake steal. Three Rivers College set new season highs in multiple offensive categories as it beat University of Tampa JV 21-8 on Tuesday. "It's just a matter of playing the game more. We got in a situation where we are getting some games in and getting in a routine, and it was definitely contagious," Raiders coach Stacey Burkey said. The Raiders scored six runs in the second, one in the fourth, seven in the fifth, five in the sixth and two in the eighth. It was scoreless with one out in the second and Tyler Mathys on first base for the Raiders. He faked a steal and got the middle infield to move toward second base as Matt Robbins' grounder snuck past the shortstop for a single. The next seven Raiders reached base, including two doubles and a triple. "If he doesn't do that, it's an inning-ending double play and we don't score any runs," Burkey said. "I think it really gave us a boost and the spark we needed to get it going yesterday."

Every position in the lineup contributed at least one run. Eight spots had at least one RBI, and eight spots got at least one hit. The Raiders had 24 hits and 17 RBIs, which also set a new season highs. "We competed well in the batter's box as far as putting good swings on the ball," Burkey said. "Now it's just a matter of playing consistently." Three Rivers' previous bests for offense was in a 13-12 loss to Mineral Area.

It had 13 hits and seven RBIs in that game and also set a season high for walks with seven, and home runs with two. Three Rivers (5-12) had one home run against Tampa. Ryan Hunter hit his team-leading third of the season with a shot to leadoff the eighth inning. Hunter also had an RBI double in the fifth and finished 5 for 6 at the plate with three runs. Mathys had five hits and three runs. He doubled in the fifth and added an RBI single in the eighth. Riley Hickerson was 4 for 5 with three runs and four RBIs. He had a tworun triple in the fifth, an RBI double in the second and an RBI single in the fourth. Blaze Speas and William Stallings both finished with two hits and three RBIs. Three Rivers benefited from six walks, including one each from the 2-5 spots in the lineup. Despite the powerful offense, the Raiders didn't score in four innings. They had three at bats in the third and seventh innings, had four at bats in the first and five in the ninth. Three Rivers stranded 12 runners, including the bases loaded in the eighth.

Lane Crowley (1-1) picked up the win in relief. He pitched the fifth and sixth innings and gave up four walks and no hits with two strikeouts. Ty Gordon started and got through four innings with eight hits, three walks and three strikeouts. He didn't get the win because he didn't pitch the minimum of five innings. Adam Brown pitched two innings following Gordon and Tyler McLevain pitched the ninth. Brown allowed a hit and a walk with one strikeouts, and McLevain had two strikeouts with no hits and no walks. Tampa pushed across runs in four different innings but didn't put together a big inning the way the Raiders did. Three Rivers committed and infield error in the fourth and sixth innings, leading to a pair of unearned runs in each.