Lady Raiders drop non-conference meeting with Jack Britt

ROCKINGHAM — A carousel of scoring during Saturday’s senior night game ended a few runs short for the Lady Raider softball team.

Unable to hold onto a fast start at the plate against non-conference Jack Britt High School, Richmond suffered a 17-12 loss.

Prior to the game, the Lady Raiders celebrated this season’s six senior players — Kady Harris, Addyson Hollingsworth, Caroline Hunsucker, Christi Jacobs, Ryelan Lyerly and Katie Way.

Richmond led 9-1 after the third inning but was outscored 16-3 in the final four frames.

The Lady Raiders scored three runs in the first and broke it open with six runs in the third inning. 

The Lady Buccaneers, however, scored nine runs between the fourth and sixth frames and added seven runs in the top of the seventh.

Junior pitcher Maddie Pearson threw all seven innings for Richmond. She allowed 11 earned runs on 11 hits, 10 walks and struck out seven batters.

Jack Britt (3-10) used two pitchers, beginning with Katelyn Villareal (two innings, three runs, three hits). Jordan McCrimmon threw five innings and gave up nine runs on five hits.

Senior Ryelan Lyerly gave the Lady Raiders a 2-0 lead in the top of the first with a two-RBI double to the gap in left. Racing home were Way (error) and freshman Emma Rusich (walk).

Making it 3-0 early on, sophomore Hayden Robinson poked an RBI single past the shortstop to bring in Lyerly.

Leading 3-1 to start the home half of the third, Richmond sent 10 batters to the plate to score six runs. Jacobs recorded an RBI on a fielder’s choice to make it 4-1, which plated junior courtesy runner Trinity Lockhart.

Way was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded and Rusich followed with a two-RBI single. Heads up baserunning by Way following Rusich’s hit led her to swipe home when Jack Britt was returning the ball to the circle.

Robinson recorded her second RBI of the game with a groundout to third base for the final run of the inning to make it 9-1.

Richmond recorded another run in the fifth to maintain a 10-5 lead. Jacobs (dropped third strike) slid safely across the plate on a wild pitch.

Jack Britt tied the game 10-10 in the top of the sixth before scoring its final seven runs in the seventh. That inning featured six hits, including two doubles.

Trying to rally, Richmond got two runners on with two away in the final half frame. Hunsucker was hit by a pitch and junior Jakayla Steele roped a double to put her and Hunsucker in scoring position.

Pearson singled on the next pitch to right field, which scored both runners. However, a strikeout in the next at-bat ended the game.

Robinson and Steele each had two of Richmond’s eight hits. Rusich, Lyerly, Pearson and Hollingsworth all had one. Driving in two runs apiece were Rusich, Lyerly, Robinson and Pearson.

A busy week for the Lady Raiders (6-6, 5-3 Sandhills Athletic Conference) starts Monday with a makeup conference game at Southern Lee High School (6-7, 3-5 SAC). First pitch will be thrown at 6 p.m.

JV Lady Raiders earn non-conference win

The Richmond junior varsity softball team defeated Jack Britt 16-1 in four innings Saturday. Madeline Carriker had a three-run home run. 

The Richmond Observer will update the JV softball portion of this article when details are made available.

Sports editor’s note: The Richmond Observer will publish a photo gallery of Saturday’s home game soon.