In a tightly contested NJCAA baseball matchup, the Crowder College Roughriders showcased resilience and opportunistic play to secure a 4-2 victory over the Three Rivers College Raiders in Thursday's doubleheader opener.

The game remained a classic pitcher's duel through two innings before Crowder broke the deadlock in a unique fashion. In the top of the third, Maddox Morrison's heads-up baserunning turned a series of wild pitches into the game's first run, setting the tone for a contest where capitalizing on mistakes proved decisive.

Crowder, now 33-15, added to its lead in the fourth when Ryan Stalony scored following a Will Beaudoin double and a subsequent Raiders error. However, Three Rivers fought back immediately in the bottom half of the inning. A string of singles culminated in Kayson Becker crossing the plate, cutting the deficit to 2-1.

The Raiders' momentum peaked when they loaded the bases with no outs, eventually pushing across the tying run. But Crowder's defense rose to the occasion, escaping the jam with a crucial double play and a flyout, preserving the deadlock and shifting the game's momentum.

After two more scoreless frames, the Roughriders delivered the knockout punch in the seventh. Maddox Morrison once again scored on a wild pitch—his second of the game—to reclaim the lead. Spencer Mounce then provided a key insurance run with an RBI single, driving in Rylan Michel for a 4-2 advantage.

On the mound, Seth Carlson was a workhorse for Crowder, earning a complete-game victory by scattering six hits and striking out four over seven strong innings. Offensively, Ryan Stalony and Stratton led the way with two hits apiece.

For the Raiders, Kayson Becker went 2-for-3 with a run, while starter Rex Tedder struck out five over six innings. The teams were scheduled to continue their four-game series with another doubleheader on Friday.