LAURINBURG — Head coach Rob Ransom said one “bad inning” changed the outcome of Thursday’s game between the Richmond Renegades and Scotland.
Meeting for the second time in as many days to begin Central Carolina Scholastic Summer League play, the Renegades fell to the Scots 9-2.
“We had a bad inning in the fourth where we gave up five runs,” Ransom explained. “If we take that away, it’s a 4-2 score and a competitive game.
“Our pitching and defense were decent tonight and kept us in the game,” he added. “And we were able to collect some hits late, especially off the second pitcher (Bryant Grubbs). The other thing is we can’t strike out 12 times in a game and expect to win.”
Rising sophomore James Eason made the start for the Renegades, his first of the summer, and allowed five runs (three earned) on six hits through three innings. He also struck out four batters and walked two.
Fellow rising sophomore Camron Seagraves also made his first appearance, going the final three innings. Seagraves surrendered four runs (two earned) on four hits while adding two Ks.
The Scots scored two runs in the bottom of the second, before tacking on five runs in the fourth to make it a 7-0 game. In the fourth, Scotland scored on a two-run triple and three passed balls.
Richmond got on the board in the top of the sixth inning, starting with rising senior Matthew Walker leading off with a single to left. Following two strikeouts, rising junior Ethan Clayton hit a single to center and moved Walker to second.
On the next pitch, rising senior Will Dawkins barreled up an offering from Grubbs, recording an RBI single to center to score Walker.
A two-run single in the home half extended Scotland’s lead to 9-1.
The Renegades made it interesting in the final frame, putting runners Isaac Hinshaw (walk) and Ethan Locklear (double) in scoring position with no outs. After a pop out, rising junior Ashton Phifer laced an RBI single to left, plating Hinshaw for Richmond’s final run.
A walk to rising junior Bryce Goodwin loaded the bases, but Scotland turned a game-ending double play.
“The bottom line is we have got to be able to put the ball in play and be more productive with runners in scoring position,” Ransom said. “We are making too many unproductive outs.
“But we are seeing some good things, and I’m high on Ashton Phifer who is off to a great start,” he closed. “There are a lot of kids who are doing well for themselves and they are competing. We’ll continue to develop and get better.”
The Renegades spread their seven hits across seven different players, with Locklear’s double being the lone extra-base hit. Adding singles were Clayton, Dawkins, Eason, Phifer, Walker and rising senior Alston Johnson.
Richmond stranded six runners on base, and Dawkins and Phifer recorded solo RBIs. Scotland had 10 hits in the win.
Richmond (0-2) will look for its first win of the summer in a make up from a rainout from earlier in the week at home on Friday against Scotland (2-0).
