ROCKINGHAM — A six-run first inning was more than enough to help the Richmond Renegade baseball team coast to a win on Tuesday.
Despite having several starting players absent, the Renegades defeated Lee County 10-2 to start their final Central Carolina Scholastic Summer League series.
Adding to their big lead, the Renegades tacked on four insurance runs in the bottom of the third inning.
Richmond used a balance of strong pitching from rising sophomores Camron Seagraves and James Eason, along with an offensive performance of nine hits from eight different players.
For the second time in the last handful of games, Seagraves and Eason teamed up to limit an opposing offense. Seagraves tossed four innings and allowed two runs (one earned) on one hit and five walks. He struck out seven batters.
Eason pitched the final three innings of relief, not allowing any runs or hits, while striking out three Lee County players.
Walker Lambeth got the scoring started in the bottom of the first with an RBI infield single to short, plating Ashton Phifer (leadoff single). In the next at-bat with the bases loaded, Isaac Hinshaw hit a pop fly single to left, scoring Eason (single) and Matthew Walker (single).
Leading 3-0, a Bryce Goodwin single loaded the bases again and Jullian Cline drew a walk to move Lambeth safely across home plate.
Capping the inning was a two-out, two-RBI base knock from Cody Eason, which scored Hinshaw and Goodwin to extend Richmond’s lead to 6-0.
Camron Seagraves pitched four innings in Tuesday’s win over Lee County. (Hannah Hinshaw)
Lee County scored its first run in the top of the third on a passed ball, but Richmond added to its lead in the home half of the third.
An error and two hit-by-pitches quickly loaded the bases and Cline patiently drew another walk to bring home Lambeth (error). In the next at-bat, Cody Eason was plunked by a pitch, moving Goodwin (HBP) 90 feet to make it 8-1.
With Cain Hunsucker at the plate and two outs, two wild pitches from Lee County’s pitcher allowed Dexter Mabe (HBP) and Cline to score Richmond’s final two runs of the game.
Lee County’s second run came a half inning later on an RBI groundout to second base.
Phifer led the Renegades with a team-high two hits, while James Eason, Cody Eason, Walker, Lambeth, Hinshaw, Goodwin and Ethan Locklear each tallied a single.
Cody Eason’s three RBIs were a game-high, while Cline and Hinshaw both added two RBIs in the win. Lambeth recorded one RBI.
Improving to 6-3 and winning their sixth straight game, the Renegades and head coach Rob Ransom will close their season on Thursday. First pitch from Lee County is set for 7 p.m.
