PARK HILLS, Mo. — Three Rivers got three home runs and won, then gave up three home runs and lost.
The Raiders had 24 hits on the day and won their opener against Mineral Area 7-5 before losing the nightcap 13-5 on Friday in Park Hills. The Raiders will conclude the series, and their regular-season, at Mineral Area on Saturday.
"With everybody we've played this year, we've felt confident going in," Three Rivers coach Tyler Smith said. "We played really well the first game today. I know our guys are feeling confident going into tomorrow."
Mason Morgan will start on the mound in Saturday's opener after throwing a no-hitter in his previous start. Smith said the starter for the nightcap is undetermined.
Cade Cancilla, Lane Baremore and Hunter Gray all had solo home runs before Three Rivers rallied after trailing 5-3 heading into the sixth inning. For Cancilla, it was his 10th of the season to lead the team.
"He's played really well. It's been fun to follow his development. He's coming into his own as a player," Smith said of Cancilla.
The Raiders (20-23, 8-18 Region XVI) had stranded six runners in the first five innings, including the bases loaded in the second inning. Along the way, Mineral Area pitcher Nathan Landry struck out nine through five innings and was responsible for the first six outs of the game.
Landry, who is slated to play for Missouri, exited after the fifth inning, and Kaleb Richards got a quick strikeout before seven straight Raiders reached base.
"We faced a really good arm in the first game, which is a confidence booster," Smith said of Landry. "We just figured out a way to get stuff done."
Nathan Browning singled in Mason Libla to get the Raiders within a run and forced out on a fielder's choice.
Kolten Poorman singled to put runners on the corners and Cancilla, who was 3 for 4 with two RBIs, tied the game with a single up the middle.
Hunter Gray added another RBI single to take the lead.
The Raiders had the bases loaded with two outs for the second time in the game, but the Cardinals (27-11, 15-11) got a flyout to right field.
Pinch-hitter Kyle Clayton got a leadoff single in the seventh and scored on Andrew Lara's sacrifice fly to give the Raiders an insurance run.
Austin Brock struck out the side in the seventh to get his second save.
"We feel pretty good when we've got a lead late in the game and we've been pretty successful," Smith said.
Michael White (3-2) picked up the win in relief and pitched 1 1/3 innings without allowing a hit. He had two strikeouts and allowed a hit.
Three Rivers had 11 hits in the nightcap and stranded nine but scored all five of its runs in the fourth inning, all with two outs.
Six of the team's hits were in the fourth inning and batted around but didn't have more than five players come to the plate in any other inning.
Mason Libla had a two-run home run, his second home run of the season, and Poorman, Cancilla, and Baremore followed with RBI singles.
The first four batters in Mineral Area's lineup combined for 11 runs before the fifth inning, including a pair of three-run home runs by Connor Hicks and Dillon Thomas.
Poorman and Cancilla each had two hits.
The top four were collectively 6 for 8 with seven walks and 10 RBIs.
"The score of the second game looks a lot worse than the game really was," Smith said. "Basically, two plays accounted for six runs."
Joseph Ranford (1-1) pitched two innings in relief and took the loss. He allowed four hits and three walks with six earned runs and three strikeouts.
Scott Borkgren - Daily American Republic