Home Local Sports Pitcher’s duel ends in one-run loss for Raiders

Pitcher’s duel ends in one-run loss for Raiders

ROSports File Photo: Camron Seagraves (left) meets with Cain Hunsucker during a game earlier this spring. (Kyle Pillar, sports editor)

SANFORD — The numbers were nearly identical in Tuesday’s pitcher’s duel between Richmond and Lee County, but the Raiders finished on the wrong end of a one-run game.

Playing the first of two games against the Yellow Jackets in two days, Richmond suffered a 1-0 loss on the road.

It was starting pitchers Camron Seagraves and Walker McDuffie who controlled the tempo, as both battled on the mound for the majority of the game.

Seagraves threw 5.0 innings and gave up just one earned run on two hits. He also struck out nine batters.

For the Yellow Jackets, McDuffie threw a complete game and surrendered five hits while walking a batter and striking out 12 Raiders.

The chances were there for the Raiders to score, but they stranded seven runners on base, including three in scoring position.

“It was just one of those games,” head coach Rob Ransom said. “There was good pitching from both groups, and we had chances with runners in scoring position. We just didn’t get the hits when we needed them to push the runs across and we had too many strikeouts.”

Seagraves retired the Yellow Jackets in order in the first, got out of a bases-loaded jam in the second and faced just four batters in both the fourth and fifth frames.

Lee County scored the game’s only run in the bottom of the third. With two away, McDuffie (leadoff walk) scored on a wild pitch.

All of Richmond’s hits were singles and were spread out across five players — Seagraves, Ethan Clayton, Isaac Hinshaw, Ashton Phifer and Mason Murray.

Seagraves also drew a walk and Hinshaw reached on an error in the top of the sixth.

Senior Ethan Locklear threw an inning of relief in the sixth, stranding the bases loaded without giving up a run. Two of his three recorded outs were strikeouts.

Advertisements

The Raiders (10-4, 6-3 SAC) will have a quick turnaround and host Lee County (12-3, 5-2 SAC) on Wednesday for the series finale before spring break. Varsity will begin at 7 p.m.

JV Raiders finish in tie with Lee County

Ahead of the varsity game, the Richmond junior varsity baseball team played to a 4-4 tie with Lee County on Tuesday.

The game was called after six innings due to the time limit.

Despite being out-hit 7-3 by the JV Yellow Jackets, Richmond relied on a strong start from sophomore Riley Brown (6.0 innings, 7 hits, 4 runs, 4 Ks). Three of Brown’s runs were unearned.

Scoring two runs in the top of the first, the JV Raiders took an early lead thanks to an error on a Jason Walker fly ball to center. Scoring were Evan Hodges (leadoff single) and Brown (single).

Trailing 3-2 to start the third, Jeremiah Ritter (fielder’s choice) knotted the score when he scored on a passed ball.

Richmond’s final run came in the fifth, tying the game again, when Brooks Calhoun drew a bases-loaded walk. Trotting home was Preston Fann (walk).

The JV Raiders (8-2-1, 6-1-1 SAC) will play Lee County at home on Wednesday at 4 p.m.



Previous articleNew Initiative: N.C. State filling Demand for a Feline Health Center
Next article5 goal scorers help Lady Raiders shut out Scotland
Kyle Pillar is a 22-time North Carolina Press Association award-winning sports editor with The Richmond Observer. Follow the sports department on X @ROSports_ for the best in-depth coverage of Richmond County sports.