PINETOWN, N.C. — Playing twice Saturday to start its spring break, the Richmond Senior High School softball team dropped a pair of games.
The Lady Raiders opened against Pamlico County High School before playing the host team Northside-Pinetown High School.
Against the Pamlico County Lady Hurricanes, Richmond played a close contest but came up short 4-2.
Facing the Lady Panthers for the third time this spring, the Lady Raiders lost the second game of the day 18-3 in five innings.
Steele has 2 RBI in tournament opener
Runs came at a premium for both teams in Richmond’s 4-2 defeat to Pamlico County.
Early scoring by both teams put the Lady Raiders down 2-1 after the first frame. Both teams recorded their final runs in the third inning.
Taking a 1-0 lead in the top of the first, Richmond used an RBI fielder’s choice by Steele to the shortstop. Scoring from third was senior Trinity Lockhart, who led off the game with a walk.
Pamlico County took a 2-1 lead in the home half on a two-run homer. Senior Madelynn Pearson pitched a complete game for Richmond and allowed four earned runs on 10 hits with 10 strikeouts.
Lockhart and sophomore Kalynn McCormick both singled to start the third inning. Steele plated her second RBI with a double to knot the score 2-2.
Despite having two runners in scoring position with no outs, Richmond couldn’t add on. A pair of strikeouts and a fly out stranded both runners.
The Lady Hurricanes scored their final two runs via a solo homer and an RBI double. Pearson worked out of a bases-loaded, no-out jam in the fifth inning to keep it a two-run game.
Steele and sophomore Jorja Moore led the team with two hits apiece. Lockhart, McCormick, sophomore Emma Rusich and freshman Carley McCormick all had one hit.
Early deficit too much against Pinetown
Game two of the day got out of hand quickly for the Lady Raiders, which led to a mercy-rule loss to the Lady Panthers.
Playing as the home team, Richmond surrendered eight runs in the top of the first inning. Pinetown dotted the scoreboard and helped end the game early with six runs in the fourth.
Rusich started in the circle and threw a third of an inning. She allowed eight earned runs on six hits and two walks.
Pitching in relief were Carley McCormick (3.2 innings, nine runs, 13 hits) and Pearson (1.0 inning, one run, two hits).
Richmond scored all three of its runs in the bottom of the second inning to make it a 9-3 deficit.
With one away, Pearson smacked an RBI double to score junior Hayden Robinson, who led off the inning with a free pass.
Senior courtesy runner Mikayla English, on the bases for Carley McCormick (walk), scored the next run on a wild pitch. Pearson moved to third on the same pitch and later scored Richmond’s final run on another wild pitch to the backstop.
Moore’s two hits led the team. Pearson and Lockhart both had a double, while McCormick and Steele each had a hit to round out the team’s six hits.
The Lady Raiders (8-15) will continue tournament play Monday at 11 a.m.
