The Three Rivers Raiders swept the St. Louis Community College Archers in a two-game doubleheader Thursday to improve their mark on the season to 22-15, but each victory didn't come without drama.
The hometown Raiders won 5-4 and 2-0, displaying a determination to scrap out close games and sealing the deal.
"We have found a way all year to come back and win games," Three Rivers head coach Matt Palmer said after the first game of the doubleheader. "That's not something we want to do, but in a way, we have grown comfortable doing that. We believe in every player that steps on the diamond."
Rex Tedder pitched seven innings for the Raiders, who won the first game in the eighth inning on a walk-off hit by Kole Burger, who came off the bench to bring in the winning run.
"Rex is going to keep going out there and competing," Palmer said of his right-handed starter. "It's never fun pitching in the wind, but sometimes you have to go out there and overcome the elements, and that's what he did today."
Dax Webb got the scoring going for the Raiders, as he brought home a runner on a RBI groundout in the bottom of the first inning.
Things got interesting for the visitors in the top of the third inning, as STLCC tacked on two runs behind singles from Mac Floyd and Nicholas Bonczhowski.
The Archers supplemented their outburst in the third inning by accruing two more runs to take a 4-1 lead, making things more difficult on the home team's quest to win the game.
However, the Raiders weren't intending on losing ground with the visiting Archers for long, as a double by Matt Gardner and a groundout from Kayson Becker tied the game up in the bottom of the fifth inning.
Both teams went scoreless in the final two innings of regular play, forcing extra innings.
Ashton Williams entered the game out of the bullpen for Three Rivers and pitched a hitless inning, setting up the path for Burger to be the hero for his team in the bottom of the inning to win 5-4.
"We have to build off this win for the next game, because we have to bring that same intensity when we play our next game against these guys," Palmer said.
The Raiders did just that, scoring one run apiece in each of the first two innings of the second game and never looking back as they captured a 2-0 shutout victory.
Pitcher Jackson Privett tossed a complete-game shutout for the hometown team, surrendering just four hits and fanning seven in the process.
The two teams will do battle once again in a doubleheader, with STLCC set to be the host for Saturday's twin bill.
Liaudwin Seaberry Jr. - Daily American Republic
