FAYETTEVILLE — The Richmond Senior High School junior varsity softball team extended its winning streak to seven games Tuesday.
On the road at Jack Britt High School, the JV Lady Raiders earned a 13-5 win in five innings (time limit).
Getting the scoring started with a six-run top of the second inning, Richmond scored a run in the third.
Starting the top of the fourth with a 7-5 lead, the JV Lady Raiders scored three runs in both of the next two innings to create some distance.
Splitting the pitching duties were freshmen Autumn Cooper (2.0 innings) and Lyra Newton (2.0 innings).
Cooper allowed four runs (two earned) on one hit. Newton’s relief appearance yielded one earned run on one hit. Both struck out three batters.
Sophomore Liz Lunceford plated the first run in the top of the second with an RBI single to left field. Bringing in Lunceford in the next at-bat was sophomore Kaylee Connor, who smoked an RBI triple.
Freshman Haylee McCaskill extended the lead to 3-0 when she recorded an RBI groundout back to the circle for the first out. Two pitches later, freshman Grace Hill drove in a run with an RBI base hit to right field.
Richmond scored its final two runs of the inning to take a 6-0 lead thanks to a passed ball and an error.
McCaskill, one of three players with two RBI, brought in her second run an inning later. This time an RBI groundout to the shortstop scored Connor (single).
After Jack Britt rallied with all five of its runs in the bottom of the third, the JV Lady Raiders scored their first three insurance runs in the fourth.
The first run saw sophomore courtesy runner Jordyn Chappell score on a passed ball. Lunceford was later walked with the bases loaded for her second RBI.
Connor drew a bases-loaded base on balls in the following plate appearance to bring in her second and final RBI to make it 10-5.
Newton retired the JV Lady Bucs in order in the home half, paving the way to three more runs.
Helping herself out with the bases loaded with no outs in the fifth, Newton roped a two-RBI double for her team-leading second and third RBI. Scoring on the throw was freshman Kaydence Cooke.
Connor, Hill and sophomore Annabelle Millen each had two hits. Newton, Lunceford and sophomore Abby Hinson all had a hit.
Newton led the team with three RBI, followed by Connor, Lunceford and McCaskill, who all had two RBI. Hill added one RBI in the win.
The JV Lady Raiders (8-1, 3-0 MSC) will host the JV Lady Buccaneers Thursday at 5 p.m. for the series finale.
Sports editor’s note: Game information and statistics provided by Richmond’s GameChanger.
