ROCKINGHAM — Getting back in the win column Tuesday, the Lady Raider softball team also started Sandhills Athletic Conference action in the right direction.
After dropping its second game of the week last week, Richmond defeated Southern Lee High School 12-7.
Scoring in every inning except for the first frame, the Lady Raiders used a 10-hit and 7-RBI team effort to get a game up in the conference standings.
Senior shortstop Katie Way went 3-for-4 at the plate with a double and two singles, while driving in two runs.
Freshman catcher Jorja Moore also had two RBI and recorded two hits, including one of Richmond’s five doubles in the win. Fellow freshman Emma Rusich had a double and two RBI.
Sophomore third baseman Hayden Robinson contributed an RBI double, while also getting a two-bagger was junior pitcher Maddie Pearson.
From the circle, Pearson pitched a complete game and allowed seven runs (four earned) on seven hits, nine walks and five strikeouts.
A scoreless first inning by both teams saw Pearson work out of a bases-loaded, one-out jam in the top of the second. An infield fly recorded the second out and junior first baseman Jakayla Steele picked off a runner trying to swipe home.
A leadoff walk to senior Christi Jacobs led to Richmond’s first run in the bottom of the second, a four-run half inning. She raced home on a wild pitch, which also moved junior courtesy runner Mikayla English (running for Pearson, single) to third.
Way roped a double to the gap in center following a walk to senior Addyson Hollingsworth, plating English to make it 2-0.
An error on a Rusich ground ball in the next at-bat allowed both Way and Hollingsworth to score to put the Lady Raiders ahead 4-0.
Adding a pair of runs an inning later, English, who scored three runs in the win, scored following an error in right field. A liner by Way found the outfield grass for a single, scoring senior Kady Harris, who reached safely via a walk.
Southern Lee (2-2, 0-1 SAC) got two runs back in the top of the fourth, but a wild pitch saw Moore (single) race home to open the lead to 7-2.
Two more runs by the Lady Cavaliers in the top of the fifth were answered by four more runs by the Lady Raiders in the home half.
All coming with two outs, the runs were scored following an error, Robinson’s double to left field and a two-RBI double from Moore.
Leading 11-4, Richmond surrendered its final three runs in the Lady Cavs’ half of the sixth.
Harris (walk) scored the Lady Raiders’ final run in the home half, scoring on a wild pitch by Albani Hooker (six innings, 12 runs, 10 hits, nine walks).
Richmond shut the door with a quick seventh inning. A strikeout to start the frame was followed by a 2-3 double play from Moore to Steele to end the game.
The Lady Raiders (2-1, 1-0 SAC) will host Pinecrest High School (0-2, 0-0 SAC) Friday at 7 p.m. for another conference contest.
Sports editor’s note: The junior varsity softball team (1-0) didn’t play Tuesday because Southern Lee didn’t field a team this spring. The JV Lady Raiders will play Pinecrest High School Friday at home at 4 p.m.
All stats and game information provided by the Lady Raiders’ GameChanger app. Photo courtesy of Michelle Parrish.
