The Three Rivers College baseball team turned in a pair of strong performances on the diamond Wednesday afternoon to sweep a doubleheader from the East Central Falcons at Roger Pattillo Field.
The Raiders took the opener 11-6 and the nightcap 9-7 to improve to 16-7 on the season. TRC has won 14 of its last 18 games after a 2-3 start to the season.
In Wednesday's nightcap, the Raiders rallied twice, first from a 5-0 first-inning deficit and again in the bottom of the bottom of the sixth inning after East Central had tied the score again.
With the score tied 7-7 in the bottom of the sixth, Tanner Duncan was hit by a pitch with two outs and Cooper McClure singled up the middle to put runners at first and second. After a balk moved both runners into scoring position, Trey Fikes singled to left to score McClure and pinch-runner K.J. Merriweather with the go-ahead — and eventual winning — runs.
Hayden Cuthbertson retired the side in the top of the seventh inning to save it for winning pitcher Tyler Vincent.
Nelson led the offense with three hits, while Duncan, McClure and Manny Alberto each had a pair. Duncan and Fikes each drove in two runs.
In the opener Wednesday, the Raiders scored three runs in the bottom of the second inning to get the early momentum and never let go of it.
Eli Marvin singled with one out and later scored when Grant Fitch's groundball was misplayed for the game's first run, then Brady Robertson hit a sacrifice flyball to drive home Duncan and make it 2-0. Fitch capped the rally by stealing third base, then scoring when the throw went wild.
Three Rivers added two more runs in the bottom of the third inning when Alberto scored on Fikes's sacrifice fly and Marvin doubled home Mason Krznarich to make it 5-1.The Raiders added four more runs in the bottom of the fifth inning on a Marvin grand slam and two more in the sixth to cap their offensive attack.
Alberto had three hits to pace the TRC offense, while Fikes added two RBIs.
Jaden Anderson got the win in relief of starter Caden Crask-Weeks. The duo combined to allow three hits and one earned run in five innings on the hill.
Mike Buhler - Daily American Republic