ROCKINGHAM — A rough start to the new campaign continued Friday for the Richmond Senior High School softball team.
An error-plagued home game against non-conference Lumberton High School ended in a 10-0 loss for the Lady Raiders in five innings.
With the team now four games into the season, Friday’s loss was the third mercy-rule defeat for Richmond during that span.
The Lady Raiders made nine errors on defense, a single-game season-high, and only collected three hits at the plate.
Lumberton (3-1) spaced its runs out with four runs in the first, three runs in the third and its final three runs in the fifth inning.
Starting in the circle for the Lady Raiders was junior pitcher Emma Rusich, who pitched all five innings. Of her 10 runs allowed, only one was earned. Rusich gave up eight hits and walked one batter.
All three of Richmond’s hits were singles, one each by senior Hayden Robinson, junior Jorja Moore and freshman Claire Clark.
Moore had the team’s first hit, a line drive to center, in the bottom of the third inning. Robinson and Clark hit back-to-back line drive singles to left and center field, respectively, an inning later.
The Lady Raiders’ only other base runner in the game was sophomore Sydney Barnes, who reached on an error.
Now 0-4 to start the season, the Lady Raiders will return to the diamond in search of their first win Monday at home against non-conference Montgomery Central High School. First pitch is set for 7 p.m.
