By ALEX ABATE ~ DAR Sports Writer

PARK HILLS -- The Raiders earned a split Tuesday against Mineral Area, dropping the first game 3-1 before winning the second game 6-4.

"I was really proud of the way we played," Raiders coach Stacey Burkey said. "We would have liked to get two up there but we were able to get the split and played well. We have something to build on."

In the second game, the Cardinals took a 4-1 lead thanks to a clutch hit by Matt Thompson. With two outs, Thompson hit a fly ball to left center that bounced off Raider centerfielder Chad Wynn's glove and allowed three runs to score.

However, the Raiders (20-16, 11-9 XVI) battled back in the fifth. After two straight hits, Shane Crossen had a double that made it 4-3. Later in the inning, Nick D'Amico had a single to left field on a 1-2 count that scored Mitch Thomson and Chad Wynn to make it 5-4. Jared Hughes added an insurance run in the sixth inning with a home run off the right field foul pole.

"Our guys didn't get down and didn't press or change anything," Burkey said. "We didn't try to do too much."

After Josh Jordan gave up four runs in the fourth inning, the Raiders went with reliever Ryne Millsap for a change of pace. Millsap was able to get out of a threat in the sixth inning as Mineral Area got the first two on base but was unable to get any runs.

"Jordan threw well for the first four and we thought that giving them a different look with Millsap the third and fourth time through the order might be enough to affect their timing a little bit," Burkey said. "He stepped up in that (reliever) role again."

In the first game, the Raiders took a 1-0 lead in the third inning only to give up three runs in the sixth. Garrett Oliver hit a two-run home run on an 0-2 count that gave the Cardinals a 2-1 lead. Poplar Bluff native Seth Blackwell gave the Cardinals a 3-1 lead with a solo home run later in the inning.

"(Starting pitcher Matt) Daniels threw a great game and left an 0-2 pitch out over the plate to their best hitter," Burkey said. "That was about the only bad pitch he had the whole game."

The Raiders only had five hits in the loss.

"We hit some balls at people but couldn't find holes," Burkey said. "We had several balls throughout the game that if they are to the right or left a little more, they are solid hits."

The Raiders are back in action Thursday against Meramec.