FAYETTEVILLE — Similar to its game the night before, the Richmond Senior High School softball team couldn’t erase an early deficit Wednesday.
Concluding its two-game non-conference series with Jack Britt High School, the Lady Raiders lost 14-8 on the road.
Richmond scored the majority of its runs in the third and fourth frames, both three-run innings. They had one run in the second and their final run in the sixth.
Jack Britt, which completed the series sweep of the Lady Raiders, scored two runs in three different innings, recorded a three-run second inning and plated five runs in the third.
Sophomore Emma Rusich and freshman Carley McCormick each threw three innings. Rusich allowed 10 runs (six earned) on 11 hits, while McCormick’s relief appearance gave up four earned runs on six hits.
Trailing 2-0 after the first inning, Richmond’s first run came in the top of the second. Rusich (hit-by-pitch) scored on a double steal when senior Mikayla English (single) swiped second base.
Chipping into a 5-1 deficit in the top of the third, senior Trinity Lockhart (single) scored the team’s second run on an error. McCormick pulled the Lady Raiders within a run when she connected on a two-out, two-RBI double to plate sophomore Kalynn McCormick (single) and junior Hayden Robinson (single).
The bottom of the third yielded five runs for Jack Britt to make it a 10-4 lead for the home team. Richmond’s next three runs came in the top of the fourth.
Senior Madelynn Pearson (walk) and Lockhart (single) scored on a pair of errors with two outs. Robinson, who had a two-out base hit, scored on a passed ball to make it 10-7.
Trailing 14-7 to start the top of the sixth, Richmond’s final run of the game scored when Robinson recorded a sacrifice fly to left field. Tagging up was Kalynn McCormick (single).
The Lady Raiders (6-12, 4-6 Sandhills Athletic Conference) will host Lee County High School (4-9, 2-7 SAC) Thursday for senior night. First pitch is set for 6 p.m.
JV Lady Raiders erase early deficit
Getting down early in Wednesday’s game at Jack Britt didn’t prove to be a problem for the Richmond junior varsity softball team.
Battling back, the JV Lady Raiders recorded a 14-7 victory over the JV Lady Buccaneers in five innings (time limit).
Trailing 5-2 after the first inning, Richmond scored two runs in the second, a run in the third and took control with a nine-run fifth inning. The win was the team’s sixth in a row.
Sophomore Macie King made the start in the circle and gave up five earned runs on five hits in two-thirds of an inning. Freshman Madison Hancock got the win, tossing 4.1 innings of relief. She allowed two runs (one earned) on five hits and four strikeouts.
Sophomore Madeline Carriker, who finished with three hits and six runs batted in, got the scoring started with an RBI triple with one out in the first. Two batters later, Hancock singled home Carriker to make it 2-0.
Jack Britt took a 5-2 lead into the second inning. Richmond’s two runs in the top of the second were courtesy of a two-RBI line drive single by Carriker to center field. Scoring were freshmen Jordyn Chappell (single) and Liz Lunceford (single).
Sophomore Kaylan Parsons tied the game 5-5 in the top of the third when she drew a walk and later scored on a wild pitch.
A two-run home half of the third put Jack Britt ahead 7-5. Tying the game to start the big fifth inning were Parsons (single) on another wild pitch and a bases-loaded walk to King.
On the next pitch, Carriker teed up a bases-clearing three-RBI triple to give Richmond a 10-7 lead. Racing home were Chappell (walk), Lunceford (fielder’s choice) and King.
Adding insurance runs were Carriker (wild pitch), freshman Annabelle Millen (two-RBI single) and Parsons (passed ball).
Hancock faced just four batters and struck out two of them in the bottom of the fourth to preserve the win.
The JV Lady Raiders (9-1, 5-0 Sandhills Athletic Conference) host West Stanly High School Tuesday at 5 p.m.
Sports editor’s note: Statistics and game information provided by Richmond’s Game Changer accounts.
