HILLSBORO, Mo. — The Three Rivers College softball team ended the regular season Saturday on a mixed note as the Lady Raiders split a doubleheader at Jefferson College, dropping the opener 3-1, but taking the nightcap 2-0 in nine innings.

Jeffco scored single runs in each of the first two innings to take an early 2-0 lead. TRC cut the lead in half in the top of the sixth inning when Morgan Courtney scored as Karlye Happold walked with the bases loaded, but Jefferson got that run back in the bottom of the sixth and pitcher Sami Huck struck out the side in the top of the seventh to end the game.

Huck was dominant against the Lady Raiders, striking out 11 and allowing just two singles, one to Ann-Marie Simpson and the other to Audrey Rahlmann.

TRC hurler A.J. Agers pitched solid in the loss, allowing seven hits, three runs and one walk in six innings, while striking out three.

The second game was a different story, as both teams were scoreless through eight innings before the Lady Raiders rallied in the top of the ninth.

Kyla Puckett reached on an error to lead off the top of the ninth, then scored on Rahlmann's base hit for the game's first run. Simpson then singled home Trista Grobe for the second run of the inning.

That ended up being all the run support Three Rivers pitcher Elly Eckrich needed, as she tossed a 1-2-3 bottom of the ninth to complete a six-hit shutout. Eckrich struck out 11 and allow just two walks to go with six hits. Simpson and Rahlmann each had a pair of hits for TRC

The Lady Raiders earned the top seed in the Region 16 tournament and begin play Thursday at 4:30 p.m. at North Central Missouri College in Trenton against the winner of State Fair and the host Pirates. The seven-team, double-elimination tournament runs through Saturday.

Mike Buhler - Daily American Republic