SANFORD — A much-needed win for the Richmond Senior High School softball team was secured on the road Tuesday.
Battling back from an eight-run deficit, the Lady Raiders scored nine unanswered runs in the final four innings to defeat Lee County High School 11-10.
Trailing 10-2 after three complete innings, Richmond dotted the scoreboard with three runs in the fourth inning and two runs each in the fifth through seventh frames.
Six players recorded at least one run batted in for Richmond, including a team-high three RBI from sophomore leadoff hitter Kalynn McCormick. Adding a pair of RBI to go along with her team-high three hits was junior Hayden Robinson.
Bringing in one run apiece were seniors Madelynn Pearson and Mikayla English, junior Olivia Brown and freshman Lexi Smith. Three of Richmond’s 11 hits went for extra-bases — a double each from McCormick and Robinson and a triple by Smith.
Pearson made the start in the circle and surrendered nine runs (three earned) on three hits through one inning.
Sophomore Emma Rusich threw six innings of relief and recorded eight strikeouts, while limiting the Lady Yellow Jackets (2-5, 1-2 SAC) to one earned run on three hits.
Getting the rally started in the top of the fourth inning with one out, McCormick and Pearson each drew a bases-loaded walk to score a run. Robinson dug in during the next at-bat and reached on a single, which scored English (error) to make it 10-5.
An inning later, English recorded an RBI single and she scored in the next at-bat when Smith barreled an RBI triple.
Following a second consecutive 1-2-3 inning from Rusich, Richmond scored two more runs to make it a one-run deficit in the sixth. Pearson scored on a passed ball and Brown brought in Robinson on an RBI groundout to second base.
Richmond loaded the bases with one out in the top of the seventh inning and took the lead for good when McCormick sent a two-RBI double to left field. Scoring on the two-bagger were freshman Carley McCormick (single) and English (walk).
Preserving the one-run lead, Rusich threw a 1-2-3 bottom half of the seventh inning. She got two ground ball outs and a K to end it.
Richmond (3-6, 2-3 SAC) will play a two-game series at Northside-Pinetown High School (3-2) Friday and Saturday. The first game will start at 5 p.m.
Sports editor’s note: Statistics and game information provided by Richmond’s Game Changer.
JV Lady Raiders suffer first loss
On the road at West Stanly High School Monday, the Richmond junior varsity softball team lost its first game in four tries this season.
A three-run lead entering the final half inning didn’t hold for the JV Lady Raiders, who lost 7-6 to the JV Lady Colts.
Using a solo homer from sophomore Madeline Carriker, Richmond took a 1-0 lead after the first inning. An RBI groundout by freshman Annabelle Millen in the top of the second made it a two-run lead.
Up 2-1 entering the top of the fourth, Richmond tacked on its final four runs. Freshman Sydney Barnes recorded an RBI single and freshman Madison Hancock hit a two-RBI double to the gap to put Richmond ahead four runs.
The final run of the half-inning was courtesy of an error on a grounder by freshman Kaylee Connor, which plated Hancock.
West Stanly scored two runs in the sixth on a passed ball and an RBI single. Walking it off in the seventh, the JV Lady Colts used an RBI double, a passed ball, an error and a sacrifice fly to score their final four runs.
Hancock pitched 6.1 innings for Richmond and allowed seven runs (four earned) on nine hits. She had five strikeouts.
The JV Lady Raiders (3-1, 2-0 SAC) will host Scotland High School March 25 at 5 p.m.
