SOUTHERN PINES — The final series of the regular season saw the Richmond Senior High School softball team get it started with a win Tuesday.
On the road to face Pinecrest High School, the Lady Raiders used a couple big swings of the bat to defeat the Lady Patriots 12-7.
Finding the gap, Richmond recorded five extra-base hits in the win, which ended with 14 total hits.
Taking the lead early with a five-run top of the first, the Lady Raiders led 9-2 after the third inning thanks to four more runs.
Pinecrest cut its deficit with two runs in the fourth, but Richmond answered with its final trio of runs in the top half of the sixth.
The Lady Patriots attempted a rally in the final frame and scored three runs, but Richmond stopped the momentum to return to the win column.
It was the arm of junior pitcher Emma Rusich that delivered the win from the circle. She pitched a complete game and kept Pinecrest in check with three of her seven runs allowed being earned. Rusich allowed 11 hits and struck out five batters.
Leading off the top of the first inning, senior Hayden Robinson took a trip around the bases with her team-leading ninth home run of the season. She sent the solo shot over the wall in left field.
An error on a grounder by freshman Claire Clark made it 2-0 when sophomore Mackenzie Quick (fielder’s choice) scored. Senior Kinsie Lyerly, who led the team with three runs batted in, recorded her first with a base hit to right field in the next at-bat.
Putting an exclamation point on the big first inning was sophomore Madison Hancock, who roped a two-out, two-RBI double to the alley to score Lyerly and Rusich (double).
Sitting Pinecrest down in order in the home half, Rusich faced just four batters in the second.
Lyerly led off the top of the third with a base on balls and later scored on a double steal. Robinson recorded her second extra-base hit of the game with an RBI double two batters later, scoring Rusich (walk).
Up by seven runs, sophomore Sydney Barnes connected for a two-RBI base knock on a line drive to center field to make it 9-0. Scoring were sophomore Carley McCormick (walk) and Robinson.
Pinecrest scored its first two runs with two outs in the bottom of the third on a single and an error.
Back-to-back RBI doubles in the home half of the fourth made it a 9-4 lead for Richmond.
Quick (error) and Clark (single) got on base to start the sixth. That gave Lyerly a chance to widen the lead when she swatted a two-RBI double to the gap. Both runners scored to put Richmond ahead by seven runs.
After moving to third on a ground out, Lyerly raced home for Richmond’s final run when Rusich skied out to center field on a sacrifice fly.
Pinecrest hit a solo homer, an RBI double and an RBI single in the seventh before Rusich recorded the final out on a lineout to Clark at short.
Richmond (8-13, 6-3 MSC) will wrap up its regular season Thursday at home against the Lady Patriots (8-11, 2-7 MSC). The game will start at 6:30 p.m.
Another night, another big win for JV Lady Raiders
Although its streak of six consecutive mercy-rule wins came to an end Tuesday, the Richmond JV softball team still remained victorious.
Starting the strong night for the softball program at Pinecrest, the JV Lady Raiders secured a 9-3 win in three innings (time limit).
In what has become a remarkable season for the team, the JV Lady Raiders extended their winning streak to 14 games.
Richmond led from the start, scoring its first three runs in the opening half inning. A six-run top of the third put the game out of reach as Pinecrest scored all of its runs in the bottom of the third.
Back in the circle, freshman Autumn Cooper threw all three innings. Her line was three runs (two earned) with three hits and five strikeouts.
Eight of the JV Lady Raiders’ nine runs counted as runs batted in. Sophomore Annabelle Millen (double) and freshman Lyra Newton (triple) each led the way with two RBI.
Sophomore Kaylee Connor and freshman Makenzie Mabe contributed with a base hit and one RBI apiece. Adding an RBI were Cooper and sophomore Liz Lunceford.
Freshman Grace Hill rounded out Richmond’s five-hit effort with a base knock.
The JV Lady Raiders (15-1, 9-0 MSC) will close their season at home Thursday against Pinecrest. Action will begin at 4:30 p.m.
