The Three Rivers college baseball team has definitely been on an upswing during the month of April.
The Raiders entered Tuesday's doubleheader against Southwest Tennessee having won nine of their 12 games played this month. However, the visiting Saluqis cooled off the Raiders, taking the first game 12-3, then taking the second 9-4 at Roger Pattillo Field.
In the opener, the Raiders scored three runs in the first two innings, thanks in part to four hit batsmen by Southwest Tennessee hurler Price Watson.
TRC scored two runs in the bottom of the first inning as Tanner Duncan and Trent Buchanan were both hit by pitches with the bases loaded, scoring Peyton Nelson and Eli Marvin, respectively.
Three Rivers (24-21) led 2-1 after two innings, but the Saluqis scored three runs in the top of the third inning to take the lead for good in the game. SW Tennessee then added six runs in the top of the seventh inning to put the game out of reach.
Nelson and Marvin had TRC's only hits in the game.
In the nightcap, the Raiders trailed 3-0 in the bottom of the third inning when they got on the board as Gavin Jansen scored on a wild pitch.
Three Rivers then scored three times in the bottom of the fifth inning to tie the game. Nelson singled home Trent Buchanan to make it 4-2, then Jansen scored on Logan McIntyre's flyball — then Nelson came home to tie the game during the play as the result of a throwing error.
However, the Saluqis scored twice in the top of the sixth inning to retake the lead, then added three more runs in the top of the seventh to put the game away.
Nelson had two hits to pace TRC in the second game.
The Raiders are back in action Saturday at Jefferson for a doubleheader. First pitch is set for noon.
Mike Buhler - Daily American Republic