ROCKINGHAM — The Lady Raider softball team recorded all the runs it needed to win Friday’s game through the first two innings and added some insurance runs late.
Back on its home diamond for the second time this week, the Lady Raiders picked up their second Sandhills Athletic Conference victory in as many tries.
Thanks to a seven-run second inning, the Lady Raiders rolled past Pinecrest High School 12-6.
Leading 8-0 to start the fourth inning, Richmond saw its lead cut to two runs after the Lady Patriots scored four runs in the fourth and two more in the fifth.
Adding some distance, the Lady Raiders answered with three runs in the home half of the fifth and recorded their final run an inning later.
Bringing the power at the plate, Richmond recorded three extra-base hits in the win. Sophomore Hayden Robinson connected on her first career home run, also Richmond’s first of the season, and senior Katie Way and junior Maddie Pearson each hit a double.
Pearson pitched a complete game and allowed six runs (one earned) on 10 hits. She struck out five batters and stranded 11 runners on base.
After leaving the bases loaded with Lady Patriots to end the first, Richmond drew four consecutive one-out walks to score its first run.
Freshman Emma Rusich, Robinson and junior Jakayla Steele took free passes to load the bases, and more patience from freshman Jorja Moore in the next at-bat scored Rusich.
Pearson worked out of a bases-loaded, one-out jam in the second with a pop out and a fly out. Preserving the 1-0 lead, that led to a pivotal seven-run inning for the Lady Raiders in the home half.
A one-out walk to senior Kady Harris and an error on a bunt by senior Addyson Hollingsworth put both in scoring position for senior Katie Way.
On a full count offering from starting pitcher Leah Gordon (4 innings, eight runs, three hits), Way slashed a two-RBI double to left field to get the scoring started.
After Rusich was plunked by Gordon, Robinson dug in belted a three-run blast over the fence in left field to put Richmond ahead 6-0.
Later in the inning with two away, Pearson helped herself out with a two-RBI double to the gap in center, scoring Steele (error) and junior courtesy runner Mikayla English (running for Moore, walk).
Richmond’s 8-0 lead held until the top of the fourth when an error with the bases loaded resulted in four runs being scored.
Two one-out RBI base hits from the Lady Patriots (0-4, 0-2 SAC) in the top of the fifth pulled them within two runs, 8-6.
Way recorded her third RBI of the game in the bottom half, drawing a bases-loaded walk from relief pitcher Addisyn Stayskal (2 innings, four runs, two hits). Trotting home was Pearson (walk).
With Rusich at the dish, a wild pitch and an error scored English (single) and Hollingsworth (running for Caroline Hunsucker, hit-by-pitch).
Leading 11-6, Pearson again left the bases loaded to end the top of the sixth thanks to a strikeout.
A one-out single by Moore in the bottom of the frame led to Richmond’s final run. Junior courtesy runner Trinity Lockhart stole second, moved to third on an error and raced home on a passed ball.
Pearson retired the side in order in the seventh on a strikeout, pop out and groundout to keep Richmond perfect in conference play.
The Lady Raiders (3-1, 2-0 SAC) travel Tuesday for their first conference road game at Hoke County High School (3-1, 3-1 SAC). First pitch is set for 7 p.m.
JV Lady Raiders also win
Playing for the first time since its opener on Feb. 26, the Richmond junior varsity softball team won big over Pinecrest Friday.
Mercy-ruling the JV Lady Patriots, the JV Lady Raiders won 21-3 in three innings.
Richmond had just three hits but drew 13 walks. The JV Lady Raiders scored eight runs in the first inning and added 13 runs in the second frame.
Freshman Nevaeh Robbins led the team with two hits, a pair of singles. The other hit was a double by Madeline Carriker.
Macie King pitched for Richmond, tossing all three innings. She allowed three runs (two earned) on four hits and had four strikeouts.
The JV Lady Raiders (2-0) will travel to Hoke County Tuesday and start at 5 p.m.
