ROCKINGHAM — Registering their second consecutive mercy-rule win Tuesday, the Lady Raiders also even their season series with Pinecrest High School.
Thanks to a productive night at the plate from several batters, paired with complete game pitching performance by senior Madelynn Pearson, Richmond defeated the Lady Patriots 15-2 in five innings.
Seniors Trinity Lockhart and Jakayla Steele, along with junior Kinsie Lyerly and freshman Carley McCormick, each had three hits. Richmond stacked up 20 hits in the Sandhills Athletic Conference victory.
McCormick, who also belted her first career varsity home run, drove in three runs. Lyerly, junior Hayden Robinson and sophomore Kalynn McCormick also had three RBI apiece.
Richmond scored four runs in each of the first two innings, added two runs in the third and capped the blowout win with its final five runs in the bottom of the fourth frame.
Pearson continued to stay dialed in from the circle, allowing just two earned runs on four hits. She struck out eight Lady Patriots.
Back-to-back doubles from Lockhart and Kalynn McCormick started the bottom of the first to put Richmond ahead. With one out, Lyerly singled to center to score McCormick.
A sacrifice fly by sophomore Emma Rusich plated Robinson (walk) and Lyerly scored when senior Mikayla English connected for an RBI single.
Pinecrest (2-11, 1-5 SAC) got on the board in the top of the second to make it 4-1 on a wild pitch.
A leadoff triple by Lockhart to start the home half led to another run in the next plate appearance by Kalynn McCormick, who skied a sac fly to right field. Later in the inning, a single by Lyerly scored Steele (double).
With two gone, Carley McCormick added to the offense with a two-RBI base knock to left field. Racing home to make it 8-1 were Lyerly and Rusich (single).
The Lady Patriots’ final run came in the top of the third on a two-out RBI double.
Richmond brought in its two runs in the third with two outs. Robinson doubled home Steele (single) and a single to right field by Lyerly scored Robinson from second.
Leading off the game-clinching bottom of the fourth, Carley McCormick teed up the first offering for a solo homer to center field to extend the lead to 11-2.
Padding the lead were an RBI single from Kalynn McCormick and a two-RBI double by Robinson. A line drive single to center from Rusich with two outs made it a 13-run lead.
Needing three outs to seal the deal, Pearson recorded two strikeouts and a ground out in order to end the game.
Richmond (6-8, 4-4 SAC) plays at Hoke County High School (10-4, 4-3 SAC) Friday. First pitch is set for 7 p.m.
Sports editor’s note: Statistics and game information provided by Richmond’s Game Changer. The Richmond junior varsity softball team didn’t play Tuesday.
