The Richmond baseball team’s offense had been on fire the last seven games, but it turned cold on a frosty Tuesday night against Mid-Southeastern Conference rival Scotland.

The Scots’ starter Ryan Pierce held the Raiders to four hits over five and one-third innings as Scotland snapped Richmond’s seven-game winning streak with a 3-2 victory at Raider Field.

Pierce allowed two runs, issued two walks and recorded eight strikeouts. He was relieved in the bottom of the sixth by Curt Britt, who got the final five outs to earn the save.

“Their starting pitcher really came out and threw the ball well,” Richmond’s Mike Nichols said. “He was throwing his curve ball for strikes. We haven’t faced many guys that throw good curve balls and he threw it well against us.”

Richmond starter Ricky Holden’s record dropped to 4-1 after suffering his first loss of the season. Holden pitched five and one-third innings, giving up three runs on four hits. He struck out nine, but issued six walks and hit two batters.

Ryan Walker singled to leadoff the inning and stole second. After Holden coaxed Britt to fly out, Travis Walters was hit by a pitch. Holden then walked Pierce to load the bases.

Paul Yarbrough drove in Walker on an infield single to give the Scots a 1-0 lead. Yarbrough hit a high chopper which was grabbed by Holden, but Josh Hilton and Holden ran into each other allowing Yarbrough to reach safely.

Holden appeared to get out of the inning with the one run after picking off the runner at second for the second out, but walked Francis Loyd to reload the bases. Holden uncorked a wild pitch, allowing Walters to score and made the score 2-0.

“Ricky’s command wasn’t as good as it has been in the past,” Raiders interim coach Jason Norton said. “However, Ricky is going to be fine and I expect him to bounce back in the next game.”

“I had couple things mechanically that went wrong for me, and I was trying to place the ball too much,” Holden said. “I didn’t have my A-game and I will take blame for the loss, but we will play them again.”

The Raiders (10-4, 5-2) mounted a comeback in the fourth inning to tie the game, but may have had a chance to take the lead.

Luke Bullard reached on an error and Hilton followed with a double to put runners on second and third. Sid Steen’s single to drove in Bullard, cutting the deficit to 2-1 and Corey Wallace’s ground out scored Hilton to even the game.

Richmond missed out on a chance to go ahead when Garrett McInnis was tagged out by Britt after laying on a bunt and Steen was thrown out at home for the third out on the play.

“We were sending him because when the Scotland kid made the play on Garrett he fell, and Sid kind of hesitated and (Britt) made a good throw at home to get Sid,” Norton said. “We are always going to stay aggressive. Sometimes it’s going to go your way and sometimes it’s not.”

Scotland (9-5, 5-2) took the lead for good in the fifth as Kevin Norton smacked a leadoff double beyond the out-stretched glove of Nichols in left. A bunt single moved Norton to third. Phillip Williams grounded out into a double play, but Kevin Norton scored to make it 3-2.

In the bottom of the sixth, the Raiders threatened again, but were unable to tie the contest. Pierce gave up a leadoff walk to Bullard and was replaced by Britt, who struck out Hilton for the first out. Steen’s bunt single put runners on first and second. But Wallace hit a line drive back to Britt for the second out and pitch hitter Aaron Snead grounded out to end the inning.

The Raiders return to action at 7 p.m. Thursday in a conference game at Jack Britt.

JV Raiders beat Scotland

The Richmond junior varsity baseball team defeated Scotland 5-3 Tuesday afternoon.

Chandler Conner earned the win on the mound. Jordan Rankin went 2-for-2 with two runs batted in and a double, while Andy Shuler was 1-for-2 with a triple and two RBIs.

The JV Raiders (11-1) return to action at 5:30 p.m. Thursday in host Jack Britt at Raider Field.

n Contact sports reporter Corey Davis at 997-3111, ext. 44; e-mail cdavis@yourdailyjournal.com