ROCKINGHAM — A 10-run bottom of the third inning helped the Richmond Raider baseball team cruise to a Sandhills Athletic Conference mercy-rule win on Tuesday.
One of four wins by Richmond’s varsity programs on Tuesday, the Raiders’ 14-0 win in five innings over Hoke County High School was the largest margin of victory.
A trio of pitchers combined to shut out the Bucks (1-8, 0-5 SAC) and limit them to just one hit. Junior James Eason tossed 3.0 innings and allowed a hit and struck out three batters.
Sophomores Allen Taylor and Landon Taylor threw the fourth and fifth innings, respectively. Each gave up no runs and collected a pair of strikeouts.
At the dish, junior Isaac Hinshaw led the team with three hits and four runs batted in. Junior Camron Seagraves and Landon Taylor both added two hits and two RBIs each.
A 1-2-3 top of the first by Eason led to a three-run bottom half for the Raiders. Seagraves led off with a single, stole second and scored on an RBI base knock by senior Ethan Clayton to right field.
Following a single by Eason, who also stole second, Hinshaw drove in Clayton and Eason on a line drive single to left field against starting pitcher Noah Allen (2.0 innings, seven hits, eight earned runs).
Seagraves added to the lead to make it 4-0 in the bottom of the second, connecting on a line drive single to left. Scoring was Landon Taylor, who reached safely with a one-out single.
Sending 16 batters to the plate in the third inning, the Raiders broke it open on the scoreboard. A Hinshaw double and walks to senior Ashton Phifer and sophomore Mason Murray loaded the bases.
A passed ball allowed Hinshaw to score and a free pass to junior Zaviar Lowry reloaded the bases and saw Connor Oldham take over on the mound (0.0 IP, one hit, three earned runs).
Landon Taylor dug in during the next at-bat and delivered a two-RBI single to center, plating Phifer and courtesy runner Ethan Locklear to make it 7-0.
A walk to junior Cain Hunsucker loaded the bases again and Seagraves drew a four-pitch walk to score Lowry.
X’zavier McIntosh relieved Oldham and Clayton reached on an error by the center fielder to allow Landon Taylor to score. Eason recorded an RBI in the next at-bat on a fielder’s choice to second base, advancing all three runners and scoring courtesy runner Javian Drake.
Returning to the plate for the second time in the inning, Hinshaw unloaded on the first offering from McIntosh (0.2 IP, two hits, three runs) for a two-RBI double to the gap in center.
Richmond’s final two runs of the game were scored courtesy of a Phifer sacrifice fly to left to score Eason, and Hinshaw scored following an error by the catcher.
Allen Taylor faced five batters in the fourth and Landon Taylor shut the door by facing four batters in the fifth.
Richmond (6-2, 3-2 SAC) will play at non-conference Lumberton High School (5-2) on Wednesday (6 p.m.) before traveling to Hoke County on Friday (7 p.m.).
JV Raiders also defeat Hoke County
A pair of four-run innings led to an 8-2 win for the Richmond junior varsity baseball team on Tuesday over Hoke County.
Playing five innings, sophomore Riley Brown threw a complete game for the JV Raiders. He gave up just two hits and two earned runs, while sitting down five batters via the punchout.
Trailing 2-0 in the top of the third, a pair of walks to start the inning led to an RBI double from sophomore Sam Thompson. Scoring was Jake Veach (walk).
A walk to Evan Hodges loaded the bases and sophomore Jason Walker drew a free pass to tie the game, moving Conner Phifer (walk) across the plate. Thompson scored from third after tagging up on a Jeremiah Ritter fly ball to center.
Using a passed ball on a dropped third strike to Brooks Calhoun, Walker scored to make it a 4-2 lead.
In the top of the fifth, Calhoun hit an RBI single to right field to score Walker (single). That was followed by a C.J. Jenkins RBI single to score Ritter (error), Calhoun tagging up on a Brown fly ball and Jenkins scoring on a passed ball.
The JV Raiders (4-1, 3-1 SAC) will host non-conference Lumberton on Wednesday at 5 p.m.
