ROCKINGHAM — The Richmond Renegade baseball team flipped the script against Southern Lee on Thursday.
A day after suffering a 10-run loss, the Renegades bounced back to defeat Southern Lee 11-3.
Thanks to a strong start by junior Jeremiah Ritter, coupled with a relief appearance from junior Jason Walker, the Renegades used early run support to put the game away.
Ritter, who threw 5 innings, faced just four batters to start the game. He finished with a line of two runs on four hits with six strikeouts.
The Renegades poured on the offense early, scoring eight of their runs across the first two innings.
Senior Zane Searcy got the scoring started with an RBI double in the bottom of the first, scoring courtesy runner sophomore C.J. Jenkins, who was running for senior Cain Hunsucker (walk).
Making it 2-0, junior Riley Brown grounded out to third to score sophomore Evan Hodges, who also drew a walk. Ritter sat Southern Lee down in order on three consecutive ground balls in the second. The offense responded with a six spot in the bottom half. A one-out line drive single to right field by junior Conner Phifer plated senior Davis Faw, who singled to leadoff the inning, one of 13 hits for Richmond. Junior Jabari Douglas passed the bat with an RBI single back up the middle to bring in Phifer. Following a walk to junior Allen Taylor to load the bases with one away, Walker notched the first two of his team-high three runs batted in. He sent a liner to center to score Douglas and junior Garret Mabe (walk). Capping the big inning, Jenkins roped a two-out, two-RBI base hit to make it 8-0. Ritter faced just four batters in both the third and fourth innings, using a 6-3 double play to eliminate a runner in scoring position in the fourth. Southern Lee got on the board in the top of the fifth, using a two-out single to score two runs after the first two batters reached base via a base hit. Richmond added its final three runs in the home half. A leadoff double by Taylor was followed in the next at-bat by a line drive RBI single from Walker. A walk to junior Brooks Calhoun and another Jenkins single put two on with no outs. Walker scored the 10th run on a passed ball and Hunsucker registered the final run on a sacrifice fly to center. Taking over in the top of the sixth, Walker shut the door on the win with two innings of work. He allowed an RBI single with two outs in the sixth, and faced just four batters in the seventh. Walker gave up an earned run on three hits and added a pair of strikeouts. Ten different players recorded at least one hit for the Renegades, led by two each from Faw, Jenkins and Walker. Ritter, Taylor, Faw and Searcy each had a double. Walker and Jenkins combined for five RBI, while five other players drove in a solo run. The Renegades (2-2) will host Union Pines next Wednesday at 6 p.m.
