WAXHAW — Returning to the state playoffs Tuesday, the Richmond Senior High School softball team couldn’t capitalize on its opportunities to keep its run alive.
The No. 18 Lady Raiders and head coach Caroline Wilson had their chances on the road at No. 15 Marvin Ridge High School in the opening round of the NCHSAA 7A West postseason.
Despite a slow start, Richmond figured things out at the plate in the middle innings, but left too many runners on base in a 6-1 loss.
Scoring a run in the first inning, the Lady Mavericks took a 5-0 lead with a four-run bottom of the second.
Richmond scored its lone run in the top of the third, but Marvin Ridge answered with its final run an inning later.
Wilson explained that the Lady Raiders made changes at the dish to get runners on base in against starting pitcher Brielle McArdle (complete game, one unearned run, eight hits).
But unable to find timely hitting, Richmond stranded 10 total base runners, including seven runners in scoring position.
“We started out slow at the plate and then when we made the necessary adjustments, we couldn’t execute to get the runs all the way in,” Wilson said. “We left runners on base in three innings in critical moments and that hurt us.”
A solo homer in the home half first made it 1-0 and Marvin Ridge added to its lead with a wild pitch, a two-run homer and an RBI double in the bottom of the second.
Starting in the circle for Richmond was junior pitcher Emma Rusich, who threw two innings. She allowed five earned runs on seven hits and recorded two strikeouts.
Sophomores Mackenzie Quick (1.2 innings) and Madison Hancock (2.1 innings) each made relief appearances. Quick gave up an unearned run, Hancock kept the Lady Mavericks scoreless, and both pitchers had 2 Ks each.
Freshman Claire Clark, who had a team-leading three hits in the game, was left at third base after a leadoff single in the top of the second.
Starting the top of the third with a leadoff base on balls, junior Madeline Carriker used her patience to score Richmond’s lone run. After a bunt single by junior Macie King and a passed ball, both runners moved into scoring position with no outs.
Senior Hayden Robinson, who played her final high school game alongside fellow senior Kinsie Lyerly Tuesday, dug in and reached on an error. That miscue by the Lady Mavericks allowed Carriker to score and make it a 5-1 deficit.
King was caught stealing for the second out, and after Quick doubled to move herself and Robinson into scoring position, a pop out left both runners stranded.
Quick recorded a 1-2-3 bottom of the third and Richmond quickly put two runners on safely to start the fourth. Lyerly and Rusich each singled and advanced another base after tagging up on the second out.
A two-out walk to King loaded the bases, but all three runners were left on base when a fly out ended the threat.
Marvin Ridge’s final run of the game came in the bottom of the fourth when a batter was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded and two gone.
Hancock (walk) and Clark (double) reached scoring position with one out in the fifth. Richmond’s run of bad luck continued with a pop out in foul territory and a pop out to short to keep the score 6-1.
Hancock retired the Lady Mavericks in order in the fifth and stranded a runner at second in the sixth to give Richmond a chance.
Carriker and Clark each singled in the sixth and seventh inning, respectively, to become the Lady Raiders’ final two base runners in the game. Both, however, didn’t advance past first base.
“Overall, these girls fought back after a rough start and finished second in the conference,” Wilson said of her second season.
“And we made it back to the playoffs this year, so I’m proud of them. We had a lot of drive and I’m excited to see us grow.”
The Lady Raiders finished their season with a 9-14 overall record and placed second in the Mid-South Conference standings with a 7-3 mark.
Clark led the Lady Raiders this season in batting average (.514), hits (37), doubles (9), triples (6) and RBI (24). Robinson was the team’s leader in homers (9) and was second with 24 hits and 21 RBI.
Hancock’s 3.56 earned run average and 38 strikeouts led the pitching staff in 37.1 innings. Rusich logged 50.0 innings and had a 6.86 ERA with 30 strikeouts, and Quick recorded an 11.49 ERA and 36 strikeouts in 35.1 innings.
The Richmond Observer will publish an All-Mid South Conference team article when it’s released.
Sports editor’s note: Game information and statistics provided by Richmond’s GameChanger.
