ROCKINGHAM — Ten extra-base hits, including eight doubles, highlighted the Lady Raider softball team’s win on Thursday.
Completing the regular-season sweep of non-conference Montgomery Central High School, Richmond used a seven-run sixth inning to mercy rule the Lady Timberwolves 13-3.
Tallying 13 hits as a team, sophomores Katie Way and Christi Jacobs both went 3-for-4 at the plate. Way had a pair of doubles and a three-bagger, while Jacobs had a double and two singles.
Way notched three RBIs and was matched by sophomore Addy Hollingsworth who recorded a 3-RBI inside-the-park home run in the final inning.
Five other Lady Raiders recorded at least one run batted in — seniors Allyiah Swiney and Kenleigh Frye, junior Makayla Parks, Jacobs and junior Quston Leviner (2).
Registering doubles were Way (2), Frye, Jacobs, Leviner, Parks, Swiney and freshman Jakayla Steele. It was the second time this season that the Lady Raiders hit for the cycle as a team.
Getting the start in the circle, Leviner pitched all six innings for Richmond and three runs (two earned) on just four hits. She also punched out four Lady Timberwolves on strikes.
Quston Leviner (10) fist bumps Macy Steen at the start of an inning during Thursday’s win. (Michelle Parrish/Special to the Richmond Observer)
After Leviner stranded a runner on third in the top of the first, the Lady Raiders opened the game with a 3-0 lead.
Frye drew a one-out walk and scored the first run by stealing home. Parks also reached safely on a base on balls and scored when Way tripled on a shot down the right field line.
Leviner helped her cause with an RBI double to left, plating Way to make it a three-run advantage.
Montgomery Central answered with a run in the top of the second on an error, one of three committed by Richmond in the game.
Jacobs recorded her lone RBI of the game in the bottom of the third when she singled to right, bringing in Leviner (walk).
Leading 4-1, Richmond surrendered another run in the top of the fourth on a groundout to second. Way added to the lead with a two-out RBI double on a hard ground ball to left a half inning later, allowing Hollingsworth to score.
The Lady Timberwolves scored their final run of the game after loading the bases in the top of the fifth. Swiney started a double play to get two outs, but Hannah Nichols (single) scored.
Swiney got the run back in the home half with an RBI infield single, plating Jacobs, who doubled to lead off the frame.
Christi Jacobs connects on one of her three hits during Richmond’s mercy-rule win. (Michelle Parrish/Special to the Richmond Observer)
Richmond broke the game open in the bottom of the sixth off starting pitcher Kyndal Rush, who threw 5.2 innings. She allowed 13 runs (6 earned) on 13 hits and 8 walks.
Way capped her big night with an RBI double to left in the second at-bat of the inning, scoring Parks (error). Moving to third on a passed ball, Way reached home safely when Leviner grounded out to short.
A single from Jacobs and a walk drawn by sophomore Ryelan Lyerly set up Hollingsworth’s trip around the bases. On a 2-1 offering from Rush, Hollingsworth sent a liner to the right field fence.
The ball rattled around in the corner and using her speed, Hollingsworth slid safely into home to beat the relay throw.
Three straight doubles from Swiney, Frye and Parks in the next three at-bats walked it off early. Frye traded places with Swiney for an RBI and Parks banked a hit off the right field wall for the mercy-rule run.
Addy Hollingsworth recorded a 3-RBI inside-the-park home run against Montgomery Central. (Michelle Parrish/Special to the Richmond Observer)
Richmond (2-0) will look for its first Sandhills Athletic Conference win of the season when it hosts Pinecrest High School (1-3) on Friday. The game will begin at 7 p.m.
JV Lady Raiders fall to Montgomery Central
Also hosting Montgomery Central on Thursday, the junior varsity Lady Raider softball team lost 10-5.
It was their second straight loss to start the season, both coming to the JV Lady Timberwolves. No other stats or information were available at the time of publication.
