Raiders split series at Metropolitan

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Three Rivers College baseball team split a four-game series with the Metropolitan Wolves over the weekend, splitting doubleheaders on Saturday and Sunday.

The Raiders took Saturday's opener over Metropolitan 10-6 before dropping the nightcap 11-1. On Sunday, the Wolves won the opener 14-4 before Three Rivers took the nightcap 7-4 to salvage a doubleheader — and series — split.

The Raiders (6-4) raced out to an 8-0 lead in Saturday's opener after 3 1/2 innings before Metropolitan scored six runs in the bottom of the fifth to make it a two-run game. However, TRC scored a pair of insurance runs in the top of the seventh inning to ice the game.

Dax Webb had three hits and drove in a pair of runs in the contest, while four Raiders — Trey Benthal, J.C. Poole, Landon Harwell and Grant Dotson — each had a pair of hits. Benthal also drove in two runs.

Colton Sims earned the win on the mound, allowing seven hits and six runs in four-plus innings while striking out two and walking one.

It was a different story in Saturday's nightcap, as the Wolves scored 10 runs total in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings to break open a close contest.

Metropolitan hurler Dylan Gormont held TRC to just three hits in the contest, while Dorian Lippens took the loss for Three Rivers.

The Raiders also managed just three hits in Sunday's opener. Gardner doubled and drove in a pair of runs for TRC's lone highlight of the game.

Three Rivers got its groove back in Sunday's nightcap, taking a 7-1 lead in the top of the sixth inning and holding on for the win.

Caleb Smith had three hits and was a home run shy of hitting for the cycle, while Griffin Duvall also had three hits and Grant Fitch had two. Fitch also drove in three runs, while Joey Ruiz homered and drove in two runs.

Tyler Vincent started and earned the win, allowing two earned runs in 5 2/3 innings while allowing six hits and striking out four. Caden Crask-Weeks tossed 3 1/2 innings of two-hit, one-run, four-strikeout ball to earn the save.

The Raiders are at St. Charles Friday and Saturday for a four-game series.