ROCKINGHAM — The Richmond Senior High School softball team suffered its first loss of the season in its Sandhills Athletic Conference opener Tuesday, but that’s not deterring head coach Mike Way.
The Lady Raiders welcomed in Purnell Swett High School and couldn’t overcome an early deficit, falling 11-6. The loss made it the first time since April 17, 2012 that Richmond lost to Purnell Swett.
It was also just the program’s second conference defeat dating back to April 2016.
Richmond would send junior pitcher Paige Ransom to the circle to start, and she allowed six runs (five earned) on six hits in two innings.
Fellow junior Kearston Bruce came in to pitch five innings of relief, giving up five runs (three earned) on six hits and struck out four batters.
The Lady Raiders would find themselves in a 8-1 hole after three complete innings, the lone run coming on a bases-loaded walk to sophomore catcher Taylor Waitley. Freshman Quston Leviner would trot home after recording a one-out single earlier in the inning.
Purnell Swett starting pitcher Summer Bullard kept a hot Richmond lineup in check over 6 1/3 innings. She allowed six earned runs on six hits and walked nine batters.
Chandra Locklear pitched the final two outs for the Lady Rams (3-0, 1-0 SAC).
Despite being down by seven runs early, Richmond wouldn’t go away quietly. A run in the fifth inning and two runs in both the sixth and seventh innings kept the game within striking distance.
“The good thing from tonight is we kept fighting,” Way said. “We didn’t let the game get us down, and quite honestly, it was a tough night. Purnell Swett is a good hitting team and they hit the ball hard.
“There were a couple of chances for us to make plays, and we need to tighten those things up,” he added. “Overall, (Purnell Swett) just outplayed us.”
Giving the Lady Rams a 5-0 lead was senior Kaley Deese, who had a two-run double in the first inning and a three-run home run in the third inning. She finished with a game-high five runs batted in.
Purnell Swett added three more runs in the third, using a two-run double from Kaitlyn Locklear and an RBI base knock by Chloe Locklear.
Bruce beared down and pitched scoreless frames in the fourth through sixth innings, while the Lady Raider bats wouldn’t quit. Waitley, who finished the night tied with teammate Kenleigh Frye with a team-high two RBI, added a run in the fifth on a base hit to score Allyiah Swiney (walk).
With Leviner and Swiney on base with two outs in the bottom of the sixth, Frye unloaded on a Bullard offering to the left-center alley for a two-run triple. Her three-bagger cut Richmond’s deficit in half, 8-4.
A single and an error to start the top of the seventh led to Chloe Locklear extending Purnell Swett’s lead to 11-4 when she hit a three-run homer.
To cap the Lady Raiders’ comeback attempt, sophomore Maylyn Wallace drew a bases-loaded walk and Bruce plated a run on a sacrifice fly to center in the final half frame.
“With good hitting teams we have to pitch ahead in the count,” Way explained. “When we’re predictable, it doesn’t matter who’s pitching, we’re going to get hit. We struggled at times to work ahead and some of that was my doing.
“We get them again on Friday, so we’re just going to learn from this and move on,” he closed. “I told the girls they’re one of the best teams in the state. When you’re Richmond, you have a big target on your back. Every time we play, we’re going to get a team’s best effort and that’s what we got tonight.”
The Lady Raiders (2-1, 0-1 SAC) will head to Pembroke on Friday for the regular-season series finale. First pitch is set for 7 p.m.
