WEDDINGTON — Unable to replicate its comeback efforts from the night before, the Richmond Raider baseball team closed its first week of the season with a loss Saturday.
Making the trip west to Weddington High School, Richmond was defeated 14-4 in five innings.
The Raiders hung close with the Warriors through the middle innings until the home team scored seven runs between the fourth and fifth frames.
A three-run home run with no outs in the bottom of the fifth ended the game early.
The Raiders didn’t help their cause Saturday, committing seven errors in the field and striking out 13 times at the plate.
After Richmond stranded two runners in scoring position in the top half of the first, the home half was dotted with hits and errors that led to a 5-0 lead for the Warriors.
Starting on the mound was junior Evan Hodges, his first start of the season. He allowed seven unearned runs on six hits through 2.1 innings. He struck out three batters.
The Raiders left two more runners on base in the second and Weddington added to its lead with a run in the bottom half thanks to an RBI single.
Richmond loaded the bases to start the top of the third and chased starter Kayden McGlauflin. Senior Riley Brown got the Raiders their first run on a sacrifice fly to right-center field.
Tagging up from third base to make it 6-1 was sophomore Drew Gause, who was courtesy running for Hodges (base-on-balls).
An error led to another run for the Warriors in the home half of the third. Hodges was replaced on the mound by senior Riley Brown, who pitched 1.2 innings of relief. His line consisted of six earned runs on six hits and one strikeout.
On Brown’s first offering, Hodges started an inning-ending 6-3 double play to first baseman Collin Hill to hold the deficit at 7-1.
The Raiders’ most productive inning was the top of the fourth, which added their final three runs.
With two away, senior Landon Taylor and Hodges singled to put runners on the corners, two of Richmond’s six hits. A double steal attempt moved both runners 90 feet, which resulted in Taylor sliding safely across home plate.
With Hill still at the dish, he belted an RBI single down the line in right field to bring home Hodges. Hill later swiped second and scored when sophomore Caden Nolan connected on a hard base hit back up the middle.
Four runs by the Warriors (1-1) in the home half of the fourth extended their lead back to seven runs. With senior Conner Phifer pitching an inning later, Max Luzarraga cleared the fence in right field for the game’s final three runs.
All of Richmond’s hits were singles in the loss, led by Hill’s two base knocks. Taylor, Hodges, Nolan and freshman Devin Haynes all had a hit.
Driving in one run apiece were Hill, Nolan and Brown.
Head coach Eric Brown said the Raiders will get back to work next week and that the coaching staff will “coach them up” ahead of a big conference series.
Richmond (1-2) will open Sandhills Athletic Conference action Tuesday (away) and Friday (home) with a series against Southern Lee High School (2-0). Both games are at 7 p.m.
That will be followed by a non-conference game against Myers Park High School at home next Saturday.
The Richmond Observer will publish a photo slideshow of Saturday’s game later this weekend.
