SANFORD — Unable to end its late-season skid, the Richmond Senior High School softball team lost its fourth straight game Friday.
Entering the night trying to even their Sandhills Athletic Conference series with Lee County High School, the Lady Raiders were held to one hit in a 5-1 loss.
Richmond scored the first run of the game in the top of the third inning but allowed five unanswered runs. The Lady Yellow Jackets (6-8, 5-5 SAC) plated two runs in the third and three runs in the fourth frame.
Pitching for the Lady Raiders was junior Maddie Pearson, who went six innings with a dozen strikeouts. She allowed five runs (four earned) on three hits and four walks.
Opposite of Pearson was Savanna Mullins, who threw a complete game and struck out 15 batters.
Senior infielder Katie Way was responsible for the Lady Raiders’ lone hit and run batted in. With one out in the top of the third, senior Addyson Hollingsworth reached safely after being hit by a pitch.
On the next pitch from Mullins, Way teed up an RBI double to left field, scoring Hollingsworth to make it 1-0.
Lee County used a hit-by-pitch with the bases loaded and a passed ball to take a one-run lead in the home half.
An inning later, Mullins helped her cause with a three-run home run to cap the game’s scoring.
The Lady Raiders (6-9,5-6 SAC) will close out their regular season next Wednesday at home against conference leader Scotland High School (13-1, 9-0). First pitch is set for 7 p.m.
Sports editor’s note: The Richmond junior varsity softball team did not play Friday.
