SOUTHERN PINES — The junior varsity Richmond Renegade baseball team couldn’t overcome a late push by its opponent on Tuesday.
Returning to play for the first time since last week, the JV Renegades fell 10-5 on the road at Pinecrest.
Richmond managed to only collect one hit and one RBI in the loss to the Pines.
“This is not the result we wanted tonight,” head coach Ryan Mercer said. “We have to start handling the baseball better defensively. We are giving too many free bases to other teams.
“When you add that with leaving runners on base at a high rate, it’s tough to win. The positive thing is we can work on all of this during the spring.”
The JV Renegades committed three errors and put four Pinecrest runners on via the walk. Richmond stranded seven total base runners in the loss.
Pinecrest jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first, but the JV Renegades answered with two runs in the top of the second.
Evan Hodges led off the frame with an infield single to short, and moved to second when Jabari Douglas drew a walk.
A groundout moved the runners up, and Hodges and Douglas both scored with two outs on a passed ball.
Two more runs from the Pines in the bottom of the third put them ahead, but a three-run top of the fifth gave the JV Renegades a late lead.
With the bases loaded and no outs, Douglas recorded an RBI when he was plunked by a pitch. Scoring was Brooks Calhoun, who led off the inning with a hit-by-pitch.
Allen Taylor (error) knotted the game at four runs when he scored on a passed ball, and an error on a ground ball to second base by Garret Mabe put Richmond ahead 5-4.
Pinecrest regained the lead for good with two runs in the fifth and four more runs in the sixth inning.
Hodges had the team’s only hit and scored twice, while Douglas had one RBI and crossed home plate once. Seven different JV Renegades registered a free pass.
Pitching for Richmond was Taylor (5.0 innings, six runs, five hits, nine strikeouts) and Sam Thompson (1.0 inning, four runs, three hits, two strikeouts).
Now 4-2-1 on the summer, the JV Renegades will return to action on Wednesday with a road game at Scotland High School. First pitch is set for 4 p.m.
