Gifford-Flatville fell back in the Eastern Illinois Baseball League race after being swept by Royal in a doubleheader Saturday.

The defending champion Gif-Flats, who entered the weekend tied with Paxton and Buckley at the top of the standings, lost 13-3 in a run-rule-shortened Game 1 before dropping a 6-3 contest in Game 2. It left them at 8-4 overall and two games back of the league-leading Dutchmasters, who moved to 10-2 overall. The Swedes also sit at 8-4.

In Saturday’s opener in Gifford, Royal’s Chris Beard (1-0) earned the win, allowing three runs on one hit and five walks in a complete-game six-inning effort. He also struck out six and was backed by Lukas Graves and Kevin Sweeney, who each went 3-for-3 with two runs and two RBIs.

In Game 2, Nick McCann (2-3) picked up the win for the Giants, going all seven innings and allowing three runs, two earned, on three hits and two walks while striking out eight. Royal scored twice in the first and fourth innings, with Gifford-Flatville’s only damage coming in a three-run fifth inning.

Sweeney had three hits and two RBIs, and Blake Hoveln added two RBIs.

Colfax earns first EI win

After dropping the first 35 games of their year-plus tenure in the EI League, the Colfax Outlaws earned their first EI win in franchise history Sunday, defeating host Watseka, 14-13. Trailing 11-10 after five innings, Colfax used a three-run sixth inning to take the lead for good, tacking on a run in the seventh and hanging on as Watseka scored twice in the bottom of the eighth.

Michael Hamerstrand was the hitting star, going 5-for-5 with a home run, four RBIs and three runs scored. Brad Sparks added two hits and three RBIs, and Tim Cripe picked up the win, allowing two earned runs in 3 1/3 innings.

Watseka was an 11-1 winner in Game 2. The Angels now sit at 6-6 overall, and the Outlaws are 1-11.