Pittsburg ? The Lawrence Raiders’ road to the AAA Legion state championship got a little longer Friday.

The Raiders lost to Manhattan, 12-7, in a third-round contest. They’ll face Pittsburg at noon today in an elimination game. If the Raiders win, they’ll meet Manhattan at 3 p.m. today in the first championship game, and if they win that one, they’ll play a deciding game at 10 a.m. Sunday.

The Raiders (18-24) overcame a 6-1 deficit with a six-run sixth inning. Taylor Gentry delivered the big hit, a bases-loaded

double.

“We just continued keeping the pressure on them,” Raiders assistant coach Drew Hulse said. “We had some timely hitting. Unfortunately, we gave up three runs the next inning.”

Manhattan erased the Raiders’ 7-6 lead with three runs in the bottom of the sixth, then added three more in the seventh.

Starter Mitch Whitson pitched into the sixth inning and took the loss.

The Raiders were without center fielder Matthew Abel and first baseman Tanner Kilmer, each serving as the best man in his brother’s wedding. Also absent was Raiders coach Wilson Kilmer, who was attending preparations for his son Olson’s wedding.