HILLSBORO -- The Raiders are in the midst of a seven-game, region losing streak, but they still have a chance at the same postseason spot they've been hoping for.
Jefferson College used a pair of monster innings to sweep Three Rivers College, winning the opener 14-6 and the nightcap 16-1 in five innings.
"We had a couple miscues. If we handle the baseball, we probably cut those runs in half and make it a reachable game," Three Rivers coach Stacey Burkey said.
The Vikings scored 11 runs in the fourth inning of the nightcap and seven runs in the third inning of the opener. Jefferson hit three home runs in each game for 13 of its 30 runs.
Tuesday's sweep also give Jefferson a season sweep against the Raiders, and drops Three Rivers into the seventh in the Region XVI standings. The Raiders are currently one game behind MCC-Maple Woods (8-16) four games behind North Central (9-11). All three teams are well ahead of St. Charles (3-25), but well behind Mineral Area (13-7).
"There's a lot of crazy stuff going on through the region as far as high scoring games, low scoring games, injuries. I think it all boils down to trying to play your best in a best of three series in the first weekend of May," Burkey said.
The Raiders begin their four-game series against Maple Woods on Friday, and was swept by North Central in February.
"We need to go up there and try to take at least three out of four," Burkey said of the Maple Woods series.
The Raiders played Tuesday's doubleheader with 13 players, down from 16 available a few days prior against Crowder, and down from 25 on the preseason roster.
"We're getting shorter in numbers it seems like every day we play," Burkey said.
Three Rivers (13-23, 7-17 Region XVI) managed one hit in the nightcap, a double to center by Garyn Stewart. The hit scored Landon Vaughan, who led off the inning with a walk. Three Rivers stranded the bases loaded in the inning after hitting into a fielder's choice.
The Raiders got two on in the bottom of the first before hitting into a double play, and Parker Dent drew a walk in the fourth for eight total baserunners.
The struck out five times, including in four of their final five at bats.
Starting pitcher Ty Gordon earned two outs before being relieved. He got a comebacker and a strikeout to open the game, then allowed the next four batters to reach base, including a two-run homer to Jordan Hovey.
Gordon had swelling in his pitching hand after getting jammed several times in at bats against Crowder. He got jammed again in the top of the first inning before managing a single to right, and by the time he took the mound, he had swelling in his hand and reduced feeling.
Burkey said he's hopeful that Gordon will be able to pitch Sunday against Maple Woods.
Lane Crowley, relieving Gordon, started his day by giving up a three-run home run. He settled down and allowed one more hit over 2 1/3 innings.
We took the mound in the third inning, and walked the first five batters before Toby Miller replaced him. Miller finished the 11 run fourth inning and Dent retired the side in the fifth.
Jefferson (34-11, 22-2) opened the nightcap with a leadoff home run. Peyton Faulkner added a solo home run in the second, and a three-run shot in the third as the Vikings opened up an 11-0 lead through three innings.
The Raiders put together four runs in the fourth and another two in the fifth.
Christian Deen doubled with one out to start the fourth inning. Dylan Kater walked and Landon Vaughan singled in Deen.
With two on, Dent tripled and soon scored on a wild pitch.
Gordon opened the fifth inning with a single, and Blaze Speas reached on an error. Deen drew a walk to load the bases and Kater hit a two run single to left.
Tyler McLevain pitched 2 1/3 innings in the loss. He gave up 14 hits and three walks with a strikeout.
Fernando Burgos finished the game and allowed four hits and three walks with four strikeouts. Both pitchers threw 87 pitches.
Three Rivers has now lost seven games in a row, all of them against Region XVI opponents. They've lost by at least four runs in every game, and by at 10 or more runs three times.