SANFORD — Another mercy-rule conference win for the Lady Raider softball team was complemented by a five-inning no-hitter by junior pitcher Quston Leviner on Monday.
Playing on the road against Lee County High School, the Lady Raiders defeated the Lady Yellow Jackets 13-0 to collect their fourth run-rule victory of the spring.
Dominating the circle from the opening pitch, Leviner allowed just two walks and struck out 11 batters. It was the first time in her varsity career recording a no-hitter.
Leviner retired the Lady Yellow Jackets in order in the second, fourth and fifth innings.
“The no-hitter didn’t really cross my mind until last inning,” head coach Mike Way said. “They had a couple of good batters, but the best thing Quston did was throw first-pitch strikes and she worked ahead in the count. She never gave them much of a chance.
“We hit the ball really well, and there were some errors that did get away from them that helped us,” he added. “Nearly everyone had a hit, and once we figured out what we were doing, it went about as expected.”
The Lady Raiders collected 12 hits, using a game-high three hits from senior Allyiah Swiney, who had three singles and two RBIs.
Junior Makayla Parks had two hits and two RBIs, senior Kenleigh Frye and sophomore Christi Jacobs added a triple apiece and sophomore Katie Way notched a double.
Richmond added solo runs in the first and second innings, both using errors by Lee County to plate the runners. The Lady Yellow Jackets committed eight errors in the game.
Three runs in the third, and four runs in both the fourth and fifth frames, broke it open for Richmond.
In the third, Swiney (single) scored on a wild pitch to make it 3-0. An error on a fly ball by Leviner scored Way (walk) and Leviner raced home on the same error.
Swiney started the scoring in the fourth with an RBI single to center, scoring sophomore Ryelan Lyerly (single). Frye roped an RBI triple in the next at-bat to bring home Swiney.
Leading 7-0, an RBI single from Parks and an RBI double by Way in the next two at-bats put the Lady Raiders up nine runs.
Cementing the mercy-rule win, an error in the top of the fifth allowed Jacobs to score following a one-out triple. An RBI single by Swiney and two errors accounted for the final two runs of the game.
Contributing one RBI apiece were Frye, Lyerly and Way, who also drew three walks. Swiney crossed home plate four times to lead the team.
Richmond (6-1, 3-1 SAC) will finish the season series against Lee County (0-4, 0-4 SAC) Tuesday at home. First pitch is slated for 5 p.m.
Note: The Richmond junior varsity softball team did not play on Monday, and also will not play on Tuesday since Lee County didn’t field a team.
