CHARLOTTE — The Richmond Raider baseball team was one inning away from returning to the win column Saturday.
Continuing their four-game stretch of the Jack Sink Baseball Classic, the Raiders traveled to host school Myers Park.
Richmond had a pair of one-run leads after the third inning, but a five-run home half of the fourth for the Mustangs led to a 9-6 defeat for the Raiders.
Sophomore Evan Hodges had a breakout game for the Raiders at the plate, collecting three of the team’s 11 hits, including his first career high school home run. He also had a team-high two runs batted in.
Hodges started on the mound for Richmond and tossed three and two-thirds innings. He allowed seven earned runs on five hits, six walks and struck out two batters.
Fellow sophomore Caden Nolan threw the final two and one-third innings and surrendered two earned runs on four hits. He sat down two batters via the punchout and walked one.
In the top of the first inning, Hodges gave the Raiders a 1-0 lead when he connected on a solo home run to straightaway left field.
Richmond built its lead to 3-0 through the first two and a half frames. Hodges helped his cause again in the top of the third, singling home a run to left field. Scoring on the play was senior Marquan Martin, who was courtesy running for senior catcher Cain Hunsucker (error).
Junior Riley Brown added another run in the next at-bat on an RBI groundout to third base. Racing home from third was freshman Collin Hill (walk).
The Mustangs (9-3) pulled within a run in the home half. An RBI single in the bottom of the fourth tied the game 3-3.
With two outs and a runner on base, four straight walks and a two-RBI hit completed the big inning for Myers Park to put the Mustangs ahead 7-3.
With Myers Park leading 9-3 entering the top of the seventh, the Raiders plated three runs before their rally fell short.
Nolan and senior Isaac Hinshaw each connected on an RBI single with one out, and junior Jabari Douglas smoked a two-out double to record Richmond’s final run.
For the second time in as many nights, the Raiders ended the game with the tying run at the plate.
Douglas and Nolan each had two hits and an RBI apiece for Richmond. Hinshaw, Landon Taylor, Jeremiah Ritter (double) and James Eason all had one hit. Hinshaw and Brown both had one RBI.
The Raiders (8-4) are set to play Charlotte Christian (Monday, 6:30 p.m.) and Caldwell Academy (Wednesday, 1 p.m.) to close out the Jack Sink Baseball Classic. Both games will be played at East Mecklenburg.
