ROCKINGHAM — Scoring came at a premium during Tuesday’s Sandhills Athletic Conference baseball game.
The Richmond Raiders held an early lead in their two-game series opener with Scotland High School. But a pair of two-run innings by the Fighting Scots led to a 4-2 defeat.
Prior to the start of the game, the team’s six senior players were recognized on senior night. This year’s seniors were Riley Brown, Jabari Douglas, Conner Phifer, Jeremiah Ritter, Landon Taylor and Jason Walker.
Richmond scored its runs in the early innings, one each in the bottom of the first and second frames. Scotland’s first two runs came in the top of the second and added two runs in the top of the fifth inning.
Walker made the start on the mound for Richmond and pitched 5.2 innings until he reached his pitch count. His line consisted of eight strikeouts, four earned runs and eight hits.
Ritter finished out the remaining 1.2 innings of work and kept Scotland scoreless. He had zeroes across the board save for one walk and added two punchouts.
In the first and fourth innings, Walker was efficient and struck out the side in order both times. Working out of a two-on, two-out jam in the third, Walker stranded two runners on a lineout to junior center fielder Jake Veach.
Ritter inherited a runner on second with two away in the fifth. He needed just six pitches to get his first strikeout and leave the runner on. A leadoff walk in the seventh went nowhere, as Ritter recorded outs to the next three batters.
With two away in the bottom of the first inning, junior Caden Nolan hit a hard ground ball base hit into left field. That scored Taylor, who reached earlier in the inning on a fielder’s choice to make it 1-0.
Scotland’s two runs in the top of the second were the result of a sacrifice fly and an RBI double.
Walker (error), Phifer (infield single) and Veach (walk) loaded the bases with one out in the home half of the second. Douglas drew a bases-loaded walk from starting pitcher Dylan Tilson (1.1 innings, 2 runs, 2 hits) to plate sophomore Jakob Trexler, who was courtesy running for Walker.
The promising inning ended, however, on an infield fly and a pop out to the shortstop. The 2-2 tie would hold until the top of the fifth inning.
The Fighting Scots plated the game’s final two runs in the fifth on a double steal and an infield single.
Richmond had its chances to score against Tilson and relief pitchers Robbie Peed (4.1 innings) and Garret Manning (1.1 innings). The Raiders stranded a total of seven base runners throughout the course of the game.
Phifer had two of Richmond’s five hits, both singles. Taylor, Nolan and sophomore Collin Hill each connected for a single.
The Raiders (12-7, 7-4 SAC) travel to Scotland (10-7, 6-4 SAC) Thursday to close the series before spring break. First pitch is scheduled for 7 p.m.
