WALNUT RIDGE, Ark. — The Raiders ended a seven-game skid with a dominant sweep Friday. Three Rivers beat Williams Baptist 13-5 in the opener and then 5-0. "It was probably the best weather day we've had all spring, so a good day all around," Three Rivers coach Stacey Burkey said. It was the first road wins for the Raiders (10-15) since March 15. Three Rivers, which has played seven games at home and 18 on the road, has one more road doubleheader before playing 12 straight at home, including 10 Region XVI games. Ryan Hunter, back in the lineup after 20 days because of an injury, was 4 for 5 with three RBIs and a home run in the opener as the middle of the Raider lineup powered the offense. Hunter doubled in his first plate appearance, had a home run in his second, and was a triple shy of the cycle. "He wasn't 100 percent with his leg, but he was smart enough to know when to push it and when not to," Burkey said. "He was a little sore (Saturday) morning after playing in both games, but he was feeling good and is on the way back." The Nos. 3-6 batters scored a combined nine runs, with Drew Evans and Reece Reading scoring twice, and Garyn Stewart scoring three times. Reading a home run among his three hits and a team-high six RBIs. It was the second home run of the season for both Hunter and Reading, tying them for the team lead with Stewart. Stewart was 2 for 4 with a double as Three Rivers scored 13 runs off 13 hits and seven walks. The Raiders were down 2-0 after the first inning but tied it up in the second. They then separated with a five run fourth inning and tacked on three more in the top of the sixth to go ahead 11-3. Quentin Bowling (2-3) pitched five innings in the win and allowed five hits and two walks with four strikeouts. None of the three runs against him were earned. "He has given us a chance to win every time he's pitched," Burkey said. "I think our guys are confident in him going out and giving us a quality start." Ty Lumley pitched the final two innings and had three strikeouts with two hits and two walks.

The nightcap started as a pitchers' dual and was scoreless through four innings. Beau Burson (1-1) made it through the fifth inning for the Raiders and got his first win thanks to a pair of runs the Raiders scored in the top of the fifth. "It was really good to see his fastball. His last two pitching appearances, he's showing the fastball he had in the fall. Earlier in the year for whatever reason, he hadn't shown that velocity," Burkey said.  Parker Dent and Elvin Diaz each threw a inning in relief as Three Rivers tacked on an insurance run in the sixth, and then two more in the seventh. The Raiders had nine hits and six walks, with Hunter again leading the offense. He was 3 for 4 with a run and an RBI, giving him seven hits on the day and a team-best 19 RBIs for the season despite missing 12 of the team's 25 games. Stewart had two hits and an RBI and Poplar Bluff alum Michael Anagnostopoulos was 2 for 3 with an RBI. The doubleheader was Anagnostopoulos' first two appearances of the season because of a knee injury, and the freshman outfielder was 3 for 7 with two RBIs for the day. "He was here a couple of weeks ago, wondering if he was going to be able to play at all," Burkey said. "He's certainly not in the physical condition a month and a half ago just because of the time off and the time devoted to his knee but both he and Ryan, they looked pretty good. It was good to have them in the lineup."

Scott Borkgren - Daily American Republic