BENNETTSVILLE, S.C. — A pair of three-run innings allowed on Tuesday resulted in the Lady Raider softball team’s third consecutive loss.
Taking a break from Sandhills Athletic Conference action, the Lady Raiders finished their two-game set with Marlboro County High School.
Losing by a final score of 6-2, it was the second time this spring Richmond has fallen to the Lady Bulldogs.
Held to just four hits, Richmond took an early lead in the top of the first inning. But the Lady Raiders wouldn’t strike again until the top of the fifth inning.
Marlboro County (16-2) plated three runs in the first and three more runs in the bottom of the fourth.
Pitching for the Lady Raiders was senior Quston Leviner (6.0 IP, 7 hits, 6 runs, 6 Ks). Only three of Leviner’s runs were earned.
With the bases loaded and two outs in the top of the first, sophomore Jakayla Steele drew a free pass off starting pitcher Mackenzie Kubas. Moving the runners up a base, senior Makayla Parks (walk) scored to make it 1-0.
The Lady Bulldogs tied the game in the home half using a bases-loaded walk. Then a hit-by-pitch and an RBI single in the next two at-bats extended the lead to 3-1.
Leviner and Kubas both stranded runners in the second and third innings before the Lady Bulldogs added insurance runs in the fourth.
An RBI single and a two-RBI base knock drove in Marlboro County’s final three runs of the game.
Leading off the top of the fifth, Leviner went yard on a solo shot to left field, her team-leading fifth home run of the spring.
Richmond’s comeback effort came up short, stranding a runner on base in both the sixth and seventh frames.
Collecting a team-high two hits was Leviner (homer, double), as senior Macy Steen and junior Ryelan Lyerly each added a single. Five different players drew a walk, but Richmond left seven runners on base.
The Lady Raiders (11-5, 8-3 SAC), who are tied for second in the standings, will close the regular season on the road at conference-leading Scotland High School (13-3, 10-0 SAC) on Thursday at 7 p.m.
JV Lady Raiders run-rule Marlboro County
Dotting the scoreboard in each inning of Tuesday’s game, the Richmond junior varsity softball team mercy-ruled Marlboro County 14-4 in five innings.
Behind a complete game from sophomore Maddie Pearson (4 hits, 4 runs, 10 Ks), the JV Lady Raiders used a pair of five-run innings in the fourth and fifth to secure the victory.
Richmond also scored a run in both the first and third innings, along with two runs in the second.
Eight players had at least one hit, as the Lady Raiders stacked up a total of 14 hits in the win. Trinity Lockhart and Kamryn Simmons both had three hits and two runs batted in apiece.
Mikayla English, Kinsie Lyerly and Jamesyn Quick contributed with a hit each, along with two RBI. Pearson helped her cause with two hits and one RBI.
Kennedy Fields knocked two hits and Addison Raines added one. Richmond had four doubles and a triple in the win.
The JV Lady Raiders (6-2-2, 2-2-1 SAC) will also play at Scotland on Friday at 5 p.m.
