Raiders baseball loses marathon game to Purnell Swett in SAC tournament opener

ROCKINGHAM – Coming into Tuesday’s first round game of the Sandhills Athletic Conference tournament, the Richmond Raiders were 12-1 in their last 13 games, a run that included 12 wins in a row. However, the green and gold were unable to advance into the second round after losing a 10-inning game to Purnell Swett High School 4-3.

The Rams got on the board first with an RBI single from Chandler Brayboy to put them up 1-0. Richmond would immediately tie it up at 1-1 in the bottom of the first inning from an RBI single by catcher Gordon Pihl.

 

Garet Weigman would then follow up with a double down the left field line that would score Jake Ransom and pinch runner Justin Ingram to put the Raiders up 3-1.

 

Even after an up-and-down top of the fourth that starting pitcher Trey Watkins had to carefully navigate out of, the score would remain 3-1 until the top of the fifth frame. Once again, Brayboy would single, this time to left, to bring the Rams to within one run.

 

Richmond was unable to get any insurance runs in their half of the fifth, and Purnell Swett came out swinging in the top of the sixth. Catcher Ethan Wilkins singled to right field scoring Rams designated hitter Troy McGirt to once again tie the game up at 3-3.

 

In the bottom of the seventh, Richmond’s Zack Hinson was hit by a pitch, and then made his way to second base after a sac bunt by Tyler Bass. Cy Jones came in to run for Hinson and got only 90 feet from home when Brett Young grounded out. However, center fielder Alex Anderson would pop out, sending the game into extra innings.

 

Neither team was able to put any runs on the board – or anyone on base for that matter –  in the eighth and ninth frames. Unfortunately for Raider nation, Trey Watkins would start the top of the 10th  by walking Noah Locklear. Braydon Scott sac bunted him over to second, and Raiders head coach Ricky Young decided to intentionally walk Brayboy to set up a double play.

 

McGirt would eventually single to left field to put the Rams up 4-3. Richmond went down 1-2-3 in the bottom of the tenth to lose the game.

 

Despite the lose, Watkins put forth a valiant effort, pitching 9.2 innings while striking out seven and giving up four runs on 10 hits and three walks. He also hit two Rams batters.

 

Richmond was also without pitcher and offensive powerhouse Jonathan Lee, who was serving the first game of a two-game suspension for getting ejected during Richmond’s senior night loss to rival Scotland High School last Friday.

 

Richmond will now set its sights on the opening round of the 4-A State Playoffs against an opponent yet to be determined.