CAMERON — Falling behind early in Tuesday’s game, the Richmond Senior High School softball team couldn’t earn a win on the road.
Finishing their two-game regular-season series with Union Pines High School, the Lady Raiders lost the Sandhills Athletic Conference game 13-3 in six innings.
Richmond scored all three of its runs in the top of the sixth inning. Senior Jakayla Steele connected for a three-run homer to left field, her team-leading third longball of the season.
Scoring on the homer were senior Trinity Lockhart (single) and sophomore Kalynn McCormick (walk).
Steele’s home run made it a 7-3 deficit for the Lady Raiders. Union Pines scored two runs in the first, second and third innings, and plated one run in the bottom of the fifth.
The Lady Vikings (10-7, 7-2 SAC) scored their final six runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to end the game early.
In addition to hits by Steele and Lockhart, Richmond’s only other hit in the loss was a base hit by senior Mikayla English.
Senior Madelynn Pearson (3.1 innings) and sophomore Emma Rusich (2.1 innings) split the pitching duties. Pearson allowed eight earned runs on nine hits, while Rusich gave up five runs (three earned) on two hits.
The Lady Raiders (6-11, 4-6 SAC) travel to non-conference Jack Britt High School (10-7) Wednesday. The start time is 7 p.m.
JV Lady Raiders win fifth straight game
The Richmond junior varsity softball team took care of business and stayed perfect in conference play Tuesday.
Also traveling to Union Pines, the JV Lady Raiders earned a 14-3 victory in four innings (time limit).
Richmond scored two runs in the first inning, three runs in both the second and fourth frames, and put the game out of reach with six runs in the third inning.
Freshman pitcher Madison Hancock went the distance in the circle for the victory. She allowed three earned runs on seven hits and struck out five batters.
An RBI groundout by sophomore Madeline Carriker scored freshman Liz Lunceford (walk) to start the scoring. Making it 2-0 in the first was a sacrifice fly by Hancock, which plated sophomore Macie King (single).
Extending the lead to 5-1 after the top of the second inning, the JV Lady Raiders used RBI singles from freshman Jordyn Chappell, Lunceford and King.
Sophomore Kaylan Parsons joined the hit parade with an RBI triple to start the six-run third inning. An error on a fly ball by freshman Annabelle Millen allowed Parsons to score to make it 7-1.
Freshman Rylee Smith plated a pair of runs two batters later with a single to left field, which brought home freshman Abigail Hinson (dropped third strike) and Millen.
A passed ball later brought in Smith and Lunceford recorded another RBI with a groundout, which scored Chappell (hit-by-pitch).
Leading 11-2, Richmond scored its final three runs in the fourth. An error and a passed ball accounted for the trio of runs.
The JV Lady Raiders (8-1, 5-0 SAC) also travel to Jack Britt Wednesday. Action is slated to start at 5 p.m.
