FAYETTEVILLE — Starting Mid-South Conference play Tuesday, the Richmond Senior High School softball team let an early lead slip away.
Looking to turn things around as their conference schedule began, the Lady Raiders tried to rally late on the road at Pine Forest High School.
Unable to overcome one bad inning and some late insurance runs, Richmond suffered a 13-11 loss.
The Lady Raiders used a run in the top of the first and three runs in the top of the third inning to take a 4-0 lead. Pine Forest answered with an eight-run bottom of the third to take its first lead.
Richmond responded with four runs in the top of the fourth to knot the score 8-8. Five runs over the next two innings by Pine Forest made it 13-8, before Richmond attempted a rally in the seventh with its final three runs.
Freshman Claire Clark and sophomore Mackenzie Quick each had a career night at the plate. Both Lady Raiders finished with a single-game career-high five runs batted in to combine for all but one of Richmond’s runs.
In the three-hole, Quick went 4-for-4 with a double and three singles. Clark went 3-for-5, swatting a two-run homer, a triple and a single.
Richmond had three more hits in the win, including a pair of base knocks by sophomore Lexi Smith. Fellow sophomore Madison Hancock hit a double.
From the circle, Quick made the start and pitched 2.1 innings. She allowed seven earned runs on six hits with four strikeouts.
Junior Emma Rusich pitched 3.2 innings of relief. She gave up six runs (five earned) on six hits and struck out one batter.
The Lady Raiders (2-7, 0-1 MSC) return home Friday to close their season series with the Lady Trojans (3-8, 1-0 MSC). The game will start at 6:30 p.m.
Sports editor's note: Game information and statistics provided by Richmond's GameChanger.
