SOUTHERN PINES — The junior varsity Richmond Renegades lost just their second game of the summer campaign on Tuesday at Pinecrest.
Opening the two-game set on the road, Richmond was no-hit in an 11-1 decision that lasted six innings.
Pinecrest scored three runs in the bottom of the first, broke the game open with seven runs in the third frame, and added the mercy-rule run in the bottom of the sixth.
Trailing 10-0 with two outs in the top of the fourth, the JV Renegades scored their lone run on a bases-loaded walk drawn by Caden Nolan. Scoring was Evan Hodges, who reached on a fielder’s choice earlier in the frame.
Also extending the inning were Jason Gainey and C.J. Jenkins, who reached via a dropped third strike and a base on balls, respectively, which allowed Hodges to score.
Landon Taylor made his third start of the summer for the JV Renegades, and allowed seven runs (four earned) on six hits through two innings.
Throwing the final three innings of relief was Hodges, who gave up four runs (two earned) on three hits.
Taylor struck out two batters and walked two, while Hodges registered three strikeouts and three walks.
Despite not recording a hit, Richmond stranded five runners on base. The team struck out 10 times.
“We just have to make sure that we are mentally prepared to play baseball,” head coach Corey Wallace said. “We can’t expect to win when we come to the field and not do the little things like communicating.
“We also can’t go up to the plate looking for a walk,” he added. “Too many times today we watched a grooved first pitch fastball over the heart of the plate. That’s setting ourselves up for failure.”
The JV Renegades (5-2) will look to return to the win column and split the series with Pinecrest on Wednesday. The game will be home and start at 4:30 p.m.
