PINETOWN, N.C. — Closing out its three-game spring break trip east, the Richmond Senior High School softball team lost a close contest Monday.
The Lady Raiders faced Manteo High School and lost 4-2 in the finale hosted by Northside-Pinetown High School.
Coming up two runs short in their second of three games over break, the Lady Raiders let a two-run lead slip away.
Richmond plated solo runs in the first and third frames. The Lady Redskins erased the 2-0 lead with a four-run bottom of the third inning.
Pitching a complete game for Richmond was senior Madelynn Pearson. In her six innings of work, she struck out six batters and allowed four runs (three earned) on five hits.
The Lady Raiders recorded seven hits in the loss, led by sophomore Emma Rusich’s two hits. She and junior Kinsie Lyerly both had one double.
With the bases loaded and two outs in the top of the first, sophomore Kalynn McCormick made it a 1-0 lead when she scored on a wild pitch. McCormick drew a one-out walk earlier in the inning.
Rallying with two outs in the visitors’ half of the third, Rusich singled to get on base. Lyerly dug in and doubled home Rusich with an opposite-field two-bagger to increase the lead to 2-0.
Manteo’s four runs scored in the bottom of the third were the result of a pair of RBI doubles, an RBI groundout and a passed ball.
After the four-run inning, Pearson stranded two base runners in the fourth and retired Manteo’s batters in order in the fifth and sixth frames.
Richmond (8-16, 5-7 Sandhills Athletic Conference) will begin the SAC tournament Monday, April 28. The No. 4 Lady Raiders will host No. 5 Pinecrest High School (4-15, 3-8 SAC).
