Three Rivers was swept Thursday, and is consequently in a three-way tie for eighth place in Region XVI.
St. Louis scored late in both games to win the opener 2-0 and the nightcap 12-8 at Roger Pattillo Field.
Three Rivers is tied with North Central and St. Charles while Maple Woods is a game back in last place. Three Rivers has six Region XVI games left on its schedule -- two against St. Louis and four against Mineral Area -- but may have to find time for a makeup game, as well.
The Raiders (17-21, 7-18 Region XVI) only played three games against Crowder because of snow. That fourth game might need to be played if the standings call for it.
The opener was scoreless after six innings when the Archers singled to start the seventh and then got a slow hit toward second base.
Three Rivers shortstop Garyn Stewart picked up the ball and tried to reach back with his foot to touch second, but was inches too far away and settled for the out at first.
Instead of having two out and nobody on, the Raiders had one out and the go-ahead run on second.
The next batter hit a fly ball to right-center field. Ryan Hunter made the catch and lost the ball on the transfer, but the umpires ruled he didn't secure the catch and called the runners, now on second and third, safe.
That also rolled things over to the top of the lineup. Three Rivers pitcher Quentin Bowling (2-6), who faced the minimum in the third through sixth innings and allowed six hits and a walk with six strikeouts overall, had an 0-2 count and threw a breaking pitch that turned into a passed ball, scoring a run.
"He was just mixing his pitches really well," Burkey said of Bowling. "He was really strong after the second."
Then a chopper bounced over third base and into left field for another run.
Still, the Raiders opened the bottom of the seventh with back-to-back walks, bringing the winning run to the plate.
They tried for a bunt that went back to the pitcher, who got the force out at third.
St. Louis relief pitcher Austin DesRoche then struck out two to end the game.
"Real good pitching dual. One of those deals where it comes down to the last pitch. Just a game of inches," Burkey said.
The Raiders had three hits and three walks in the game.
In the back and forth nightcap, there were only two scoreless innings.
After six, St. Louis (22-22, 12-16 Region XVI) led 5-4, then the Archers scored three runs in both the seventh and ninth innings to pull away.
"It was back and forth and they were able to get a few more across late than we were," Burkey said.
Three Rivers scored one and stranded two in the ninth.
"Just didn't get the line moving far enough down the order," Burkey said. "(St. Louis) didn't beat themselves. They made plays and their pitchers threw strikes for the most part."
Leadoff hitter Drew Evans scored four times and was 2 for 4 at the plate. Hunter, who hits behind him, was 2 for 5 with two runs and an RBI.
Matt Robbins had three RBIs and Stewart collected two.
Even and Hunter had back-to-back triples in the first inning to get the Raiders on the scoreboard. William Stallings followed with an RBI groundout to put the Raiders ahead 2-1, their only lead of the game.
Beau Burson (1-3) started on the mound for Three Rivers and allowed eight hits and no walks with five strikeouts over five innings.
Ty Lumley finished the game and allowed seven hits and a walk with four strikeouts.