SPRING LAKE — Outscored in the later innings Friday, the Richmond Senior High School softball team wasn’t able to earn a sweep against a conference opponent.
After taking game one of their two-game Mid-South Conference series with Overhills High School Tuesday, the Lady Raiders lost 9-6 to end their week.
Richmond led 4-0 after two innings, but the Lady Jaguars scored nine runs across the next four frames. The Lady Raiders scored a run in both the fifth and sixth frames, but couldn’t complete the comeback.
Sophomore pitchers Madison Hancock and Mackenzie Quick each threw three innings. Starting the game, Hancock allowed four runs (one earned). Quick surrendered five runs (one earned), as Richmond’s defense committed eight errors in the loss.
Hancock and Quick each gave up three hits and struck out two batters apiece.
Freshman Claire Clark gave Richmond a 3-0 lead with one out in the first inning. She connected for a three-run blast, her sixth of the season, to score junior Jorja Moore and sophomore Sydney Barnes, both of whom were hit by a pitch.
With two gone in the top of the second, junior Madeline Carriker added to the lead with an RBI single to right field. Scoring from second base was senior Hayden Robinson (error).
A pair of bases-loaded walks, as well as an error, accounted for all four of Overhills’ runs in the bottom of the third, tying the game 4-4.
The Lady Jags went ahead 6-4 in the home half of the fourth. Those runs were scored via another error and a sacrifice bunt.
Junior Emma Rusich made it a one-run deficit in the top of the fifth. She reached safely on a two-out walk and later crossed home plate on a wild pitch.
Similar to the inning before, Overhills got runners on base and added two more runs on an error and another successful sac bunt. After five complete, the home team led 8-5.
The Lady Raiders’ final run was scored when Moore (single) initiated a double steal, giving Robinson (HBP) time to race home safely.
In the bottom half of the sixth, Overhills capitalized on an error for its last run of the game.
Clark had two hits (homer, single) and three RBI to lead the team. Carriker and Moore both singled, and Richmond’s final hit was a double by junior Kaylan Parsons.
Richmond (7-13, 5-3 MSC), which remains in second place in the conference standings, will begin its final week of the regular season Monday at non-conference Lumberton High School (12-10). The second of two games this season against the Lady Pirates will start at 7 p.m.
JV Lady Raiders’ winning streak continues
Another mercy-rule win is in the books for the Richmond junior varsity softball team following Friday’s game.
Playing at Overhills, the JV Lady Raiders completed the season sweep and won their 12th straight game in 24-2 fashion in three innings (time limit).
Freshman pitcher Autumn Cooper didn’t allow a hit in her two innings in the circle. She hit two batters with a pitch, but all six of her recorded outs were strikeouts.
Richmond scored two runs in the first, led 11-2 after the second inning and plated its final 13 runs in the top of the third.
Seventeen of Richmond’s runs were scored as runs batted in, led by sophomore Kaylee Connor’s five RBI. She went 2-for-3 with a pair of inside-the-park home runs.
Sophomore Annabelle Millen kept her bat hot, finishing the conference win with a 3-for-4 performance with a double, a triple and a single, as well as four runs driven in.
Freshman Grace Hill was one of three players to add two RBI, which she did on a pair of singles. Sophomore Jordyn Chappell (double) and freshman Jasey Braddock (triple) each had one hit and two RBI.
Contributing with a single and RBI apiece were freshmen Makenzie Mabe and Lyra Newton.
Players to also record hits hit part of a 15-hit effort were sophomore Liz Lunceford (2), Cooper and freshman Haylee McCaskill. Richmond also drew five walks in the win.
Now 13-1 overall, and 8-0 against conference opponents, the JV Lady Raiders will play at Lumberton Monday at 4:30 p.m.
Sports editor's note: Game information and statistics provided by Richmond's GameChanger accounts.
