ROCKINGHAM — Before the start of the season, Richmond coach Wendy Wallace was hoping her team would find a way to score runs.
After registering two runs in the season opener, the Raiders have found their groove — scoring 20 runs in their next two games.
Richmond dented the plate six times in the second en route to a 9-7 victory over Southwest Randolph Monday night.
“The big thing is we are starting to hit the ball,” Wallace said. “Against Jack Britt we had four hits and none were hit very hard.”
Cierra Bowden got Richmond (2-1) rolling in the second with a solo home run to left center. Earlier in the at-bat, Bowden connected on a shot down the left-field line which curled foul. Three batters later, Jessica Steen launched a two-run home run to left. Those were the fourth home runs on the year for the Raiders.
“We have some power one through nine in out lineup,” Wallace said. “We aren’t going to live or die with the home run, but we do have some power.”
The Raiders added a single run in the third and two more in fourth to build a 9-1 lead before the Cougars mounted a comeback and trimmed the deficit to 9-7 in the sixth.
Richmond starter Summer Jacobs retired the first two batters in the seventh before issuing a base on balls to Hannah Hulin. Jacobs earned her second victory of the season by coaxing Alex O’Connell to line out to end the game.
“We started off strong in the second and then didn’t do much the rest of the game,” Wallace said. “I don’t mind big innings, but I would prefer to score every inning.”
Bowden finished the night with 3-for-3 and Bailey Coulthard and Doodle Jacobs each had two hits in three at-bats. Katie Satterfield added two RBIs in the win.
In a contest Saturday afternoon, Richmond defeated Eastern Randolph 11-1 in five innings. Hunter Parks and Coulthard notched home runs in the victory. Jacobs picked up the victory for the Raiders.
Richmond will return to the diamond 4 p.m. Thursday when its travels to Marlboro Academy.
— Sports editor Shawn Stinson can be reached at 910-997-3111, ext. 14, or by email at sstinson@civitasmedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @scgolfer.
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