PARK HILLS, Mo. — April has been a good month for the Three Rivers College baseball team.

The Raiders entered Thursday's Region 16 doubleheader match-up at Mineral Area College having won seven of their eight games this month. That hot stretch reached eight wins in nine games when TRC beat the Cardinals 4-3 in the opener.

However, MAC bounced back and took the nightcap 7-1 from the Raiders.

The Cardinals led 1-0 in the opener until the top of the fourth inning. Eli Marvin drew a two-out walk, then Tanner Duncan hit a two-run homer to give Three Rivers a 2-1 lead.

Duncan drove in a crucial insurance run in the top of the sixth inning when his sacrifice fly scored Brady Robertson to increase the Raiders lead to 3-1.

That run loomed especially large after MAC scored in the bottom of the inning to make it 3-2.

However, TRC (23-18) got yet another insurance run in the top of the seventh inning when Peyton Nelson scored on a wild pitch to make it 4-2.

The Cardinals did not give up, getting a solo homer in the bottom of the seventh to again make it a one run game. However, Turner retired the next two batters to get to save. The Cardinals did not give up, getting a solo homer in the bottom of the seventh to again make it a one-run game. However, Kole Turner retired the next two batters to get the save.

Duncan's two hits and three RBIs led the Raiders in the opener.

Lukas Touma started and earned the win on the mound, allowing two runs and two hits while striking out four and walking six in five innings of work.

It was a different story in the nightcap, as Mineral Area scored once in each of the second and third innings to take a 2-0 lead.

The Raiders got on the board in the top of the fifth inning when Dalton Rudd led off the inning with a double, moved to third on Nolan Self's sacrifice bunt and scored on Gavin Jansen's groundball to cut the MAC lead in half.

However, the Cardinals scored three runs in the bottom of the inning and added two more in the bottom of the sixth to re-take control of the game.

Kailen Hamson started and took the loss for TRC, allowing six hits and four runs in 4 1/3 innings of work while striking out three and walking one.

Three Rivers will not have to wait long for a rematch, as the Cardinals will be in town Sunday afternoon for a Region 16 doubleheader. First pitch at Roger Pattillo Field is set for 1 pm.

Mike Buhler - Daily American Republic