CAMERON — Suffering just its second Sandhills Athletic Conference loss of the season, the Lady Raider softball team couldn’t get it done against Union Pines on Tuesday.
An uncharacteristic night at the plate and in the field led Richmond to a 13-2 loss in five innings.
It was the second time the Lady Raiders have been run-ruled this season (Scotland on March 28), and Union Pines defeated Richmond for the first time since 2012.
Union Pines scored four runs in each of the first two innings, and tacked on five runs in the bottom of the third.
Head coach Mike Way utilized both of his pitchers throughout the game, starting with senior Quston Leviner (2.1 IP, 7 hits, 12 runs, 2 Ks). Fellow senior Makayla Parks threw 1.2 innings (2 hits, 1 run).
Richmond stranded solo runners on base in the first and second innings before scoring its two runs in the top of the third.
Leviner reached on an infield single and scored when junior Katie Way knocked an RBI double to left field.
Two at-bats later, senior Macy Steen roped a line drive RBI single to right, one of her two team-leading two hits.
Needing to score at least two runs to keep the game going past the fifth, the Lady Raiders got two runners on with two outs. Parks and Steen both singled, but a grounder back to the circle ended the game.
Richmond had six hits in the loss, with junior Ryelan Lyerly adding a single.
Nicole Norman drove in four RBI for the Lady Vikings (9-7, 7-3 SAC) and Marissa Fuller and Trinity Whitt each had two RBI.
Next up for the Lady Raiders (11-3, 8-2 SAC) will be Lee County High School (4-8, 4-5 SAC) on Friday. First pitch is set for 7 p.m.
Richmond sits in second place in the SAC standings, two games behind first-place Scotland, and the Lady Yellow Jackets are in fourth place. Richmond won the first meeting 2-1.
JV Lady Raiders also lose at Union Pines
In junior varsity action, the JV Lady Raiders lost 12-2 in five innings to Union Pines on Tuesday.
The JV Lady Vikings scored solo runs in the first and second frames, added four runs in the third and broke it open with six runs in the fifth.
Richmond notched just three hits in the loss, two of which came from freshman Jamesyn Quick (single and double). Sophomore Trinity Lockhart added a single.
The JV Lady Raiders scored both of their runs in the top of the third. Quick (double) scored on a passed ball and sophomore Mikayla English (hit-by-pitch) crossed home on a fielder’s choice.
Richmond (5-2-2, 2-2-1 SAC) will also play Lee County on Friday at 5 p.m.
