By ALEX ABATE ~ DAR Sports Writer

The Raiders just couldn't find any offense Saturday.

Three Rivers hit the ball hard but managed just three runs in a doubleheader loss to Jefferson College, 7-3 and 6-0.

Three Rivers (19-15, 10-6 XVI) took a 3-0 lead in the first inning of the opener but were shutout in the final 13 innings.

"We came out like house fire in that first inning and that is all we scored in the whole game," TRCC coach Stacey Burkey said.

Chad Wynn walked and stole second to start the rally with two outs. Nick D'Amico followed with a single to right field to score Wynn and make it 1-0. Anthony Gower drove in D'Amico on a double that just missed going over the fence to make it 2-0. Jared Hughes put the Raiders up 3-0 with a single.

Jefferson got right back in the game in the top of the second. John Lyons opened the inning with a walk and Kendall Findley got a bunt single. Kyle Morris followed with a bunt and pitcher Tyler Jinks rushed the throw and it got away allowing Lyons to score. With Zachary Blanchard batting, Findley got caught between third and home but scored as a rundown throw from catcher Tyler Smith was high to make it 3-2.

Later in the inning, Luke Schlechte got a sacrifice fly to tie the game, 3-3.

"If we make plays defensively, it probably changes the outlook on the whole day," Burkey said. "Just to put it pretty simple."

The Raiders loaded the bases in the third inning and got two on in the fourth but couldn't scratch any across. Jefferson scored two in fourth and one in both the fifth and sixth to set the final margin.

"We stranded 11 runners and that was huge," Burkey said. "We got in a situation where we was trying to do a little too much and our swings got a little bit long."

Jinks pitched the complete game for the Raiders but got the loss. He had three strikeouts and three walks.

"It was solid enough pitching that it is a shame we didn't take advantage of that and score more runs for him," Burkey said.

In the second game, the Raiders had a chance to draw first blood as they loaded the bases with one out in the third, but couldn't get the key hit. With one out, Nate Booker singled to center field and Scott Hudgins was hit for a free pass. Mitch Thomson singled but Chad Wynn and D'Amico flew out to end the threat.

"That was big and that could have put us ahead at the time," Burkey said. "We just weren't able to get it done there. We had the right people up in that situation, we just weren't able to get it done."

Jefferson got three in the fourth, one in the sixth and two in the seventh to set itself up for a win.

"They had a two-out hit to get their runs started in the fourth," Burkey said. "We gave up some unearned runs after that."

The Raiders left five runners on base in the loss.

"(The Vikings) turned a double play there in the fourth on a sharply hit ball that could have created some things for us there if that got down the line," Burkey said. "We had a guy picked off when we were down three runs."

Josh Cruse pitched seven innings for the Raiders and had eight strikeouts in the loss.

"I thought he pitched pretty good really," Burkey said. "His . had a lot of life on it. I thought he pitched well enough to win for sure."

The Raiders, who have now lost five of their last seven games, are back in action against at 1 p.m. Tuesday at Mineral Area. The Raiders swept the Cardinals earlier this year at Raider Field.