Raiders split pair with Olney Central

The Three Rivers College baseball team used a seven-run fifth inning to take the second game of Wednesday's doubleheader 9-2 against the Olney Blue Knights and salvage a twin bill split in the Raiders' opener at Roger Pattillo Field.

The big blow of that fifth-inning rally came when Trey Benthal hit a three-run homer to make it an 8-2 game. Trey Gardner added a RBI single before that to make it a 5-2 game.

The big inning made a winner of Noah Pruitt, who tossed two innings of scoreless ball in relief of starter Dalton Forck.

J.C. Poole and Caleb Smith each had a pair of hits in the win in the second game, while Benthal had three RBIs. Smith and Joey Ruiz also doubled in the win.

In the opener, the Blue Knights scored in every inning but the sixth, and led 8-2 after four innings.

Gardner had a two-run single in the bottom of the fourth inning to cut the Olney Central lead to 8-5, but the Raiders failed to get a hit in the final three innings.

Benthal led Three Rivers with a pair of hits, while Gardner drove in a pair of runs. Grant Fitch also added a double.

Cas Bartholemew started and took the loss, allowing four runs (one earned) and four hits in two inning of work. He struck out one and walked one.

The Raiders are back in action on Friday and Saturday when they head to Metropolitan in Kansas City for a pair of doubleheaders. First pitch each day is at noon.