SHALLOTTE — The Richmond softball team moved a step closer to getting back to the Beach Diamond Invitational championship game with a 2-0 victory over South Columbus in the first round Monday morning.

Greyson Way played a big part in Richmond earning its seventh consecutive win just four days after she missed the team’s final conference game of the regular season with a minor injury. The senior ace would throw 11 strikeouts and only give up four hits in order to survive the pitcher’s duel between herself and South Columbus’ Anna Suggs (5 strikeouts, 4 hits).

Way also came up with a much-needed RBI single in the bottom of the sixth inning to plate the team’s second and final run of the first-round matchup. She was one of four Lady Raiders to land a hit in the shutout win.

“Solid pitching and good defense kept us in the game early,” head coach Wendy Wallace said. “We were able to get runners on (base) in the bottom of the sixth to make things happen. Timely hitting in that inning allowed us to get those two runs.”

Sophomore third base Payton Chappell recorded a single early in the sixth and then senior shortstop Savannah Lampley brought her home with an RBI double — finally breaking the scoreless tie. Way scored Lampley, who was able to finesse her way to third base shortly after her double, with her one-run single two bats later.

Junior left fielder Madison Jordan was responsible for the team’s first hit, which was a base hit in the second inning.

The Lady Raiders (18-2) were able to keep South Columbus (11-3) from plating any runs at the top of the seventh in order to secure their seventh shutout of the season. It was the first time this year South Columbus was held without a run.

Next up for Richmond is a second-round meeting with Whiteville on Tuesday at 10 a.m.

The last time these two teams met was in the opening round of last year’s Beach Diamond Invitational, where the Lady Raiders used a couple of big hits in the fifth inning to escape with a 4-2 win over the Lady Wolfpack.

Contributed by Michelle Morrison Parrish
Richmond’s Greyson Way (17) winds up for a pitch during the Lady Raiders’ 2-0 win over South Columbus in the first round of the Beach Diamond Invitational at West Brunswick HS on Monday.
https://www.yourdailyjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/web1_way.jpgContributed by Michelle Morrison Parrish
Richmond’s Greyson Way (17) winds up for a pitch during the Lady Raiders’ 2-0 win over South Columbus in the first round of the Beach Diamond Invitational at West Brunswick HS on Monday.

By Leon Hargrove Jr.

Sports Editor

Reach sports editor Leon Hargrove Jr. by phone at 910-817-2673 or by email at [email protected]. For stories, scores and updates, follow the Daily Journal’s sports section on Twitter @RCDailySports.