Coaches like to schedule tough non-conference games because it will make their teams better in conference and postseason play. Richmond’s schedule is an example.

After facing squads like Charlotte Christian, Audrey Kell and Butler earlier this year, the Raiders scored eight times in the fourth inning before withstanding a Charlotte Providence rally in the seventh to claim a 10-8 victory Saturday afternoon.

“That team over there (Providence) is a great team,” interim coach Jason Norton said. “They are definitely going to be on our side (of the playoffs). Playing teams like this only make us better.”

The Raiders (10-3) trailed 4-0 going into the bottom of the third inning, when Dylan Davenport drew a two-out walk. Mike Nichols followed with a two-run home run over the left field fence to trim the lead to 4-2.

Poor fielding by Providence (9-2) helped the Raiders in the bottom of fourth. Josh Hilton singled to open the inning. Two straight bunt attempts by Corey Wallace and Ryan Jenkins were misplayed for errors to load the bases. Hilton was chased home on a passed ball to cut the deficit to 4-3 and Jeremy Outen’s single scored Wallace to tie the game.

“I told our guys we needed to play hard, swing the bats aggressively and play with great energy,” Norton said. “In the fourth, I was first trying to score just one run to make it a ballgame. Then after that I wanted to tie it. After we did that, I played for us to have a big inning.”

Aaron Snead was hit by a pitch to reload the bases for Richmond. Ryan Franklin grounded into a fielder’s choice forcing at first, but gave the Raiders the lead at 5-4 as a run scored on the play. Davenport followed with a single to plate Snead and move Franklin to third. Davenport was caught in a rundown after being picked off first, but reached second safely and Franklin raced home to extend the Richmond lead to 7-4.

Nichols drew a walk from Providence reliever George Fuller and Luke Bullard cleared the bases with a three-run home run to give the Raiders a 10-4 lead.

After the Panthers scored a run in the fifth on a balk by Jenkins to make it a 10-5 game, both teams went down in order in the bottom of the fifth and top of the sixth.

The Raiders threatened in the home half of the sixth with runners on first and second with two outs, but Hilton struck out to end the threat.

In the top of the seventh, Jenkins struck out Mike Avery to open the inning and appeared to coax CA Clayton to grounding out to Davenport for the second out. But the ball scooted under Davenport for an error. The next two batters, Brett Austin and Mike Dunn, drew walks to load the bases and chase Jenkins from the mound in favor of Davenport.

Cory Smith was hit by Davenport to drive home Clayton and get the Panthers closer at 10-6. Kurt Semeniuk smacked a two-run double down the left field line to score Austin and Dunn, and moving Smith over to third.

Davenport shut the door on the Providence rally by getting the last two batters to strike out and fly out to left to end the game.

In the junior varsity contest, the Raiders (10-1) shut out the Panthers 9-0. Ty Bostick, Chandler Conner and Jordan Rankin had two hits in the victory. Conner earned the win on the hill for Richmond.

The Raiders return to action at 7 p.m. Tuesday against Scotland at home in a make-up game.

n Contact sports editor Shawn Stinson at 997-3111, ext. 14; e-mail sstinson@yourdailyjournal.com