Raiders complete season sweep of Rams

July 7, 2010

By James Frye of Southeastern Conference


PEMBROKE—Richmond’s senior summer team pushed a little closer to a Central Carolina Summer Scholastic League tournament berth on Tuesday night with a 9-5 win over Purnell Sweat, completing the season sweep of the Rams.

Chandler Conner opened the game for the Raiders with a leadoff single, and later scored when Alex Dockery swiped second base and the Rams threw the ball away.

However, the Raiders stranded Dockery, getting just the lone run.

The Rams answered back in the bottom of the first, pushing a run across the plate on an error by the Raiders defense.

The game was a seesaw affair over the next four innings, with the Raiders maintaining a one-run advantage. Richmond scored a run in each of the first four innings. The Rams answered back with a run of their own in each frame.

With the score at 5-4 Richmond in the bottom of the sixth, the Rams jumped on the chance to score on a passed ball, and tied the game at 5-5.

Richmond coach Ricky Young called upon Ryan Mercer to finish the game on the mound, and Mercer answered the call in a big way for the Raiders.

Coming into the game in the bottom of the sixth, Mercer allowed two hits, no runs, and struck out two Ram batters to earn the win.

While Mercer held down the fort on the mound, it was time for Richmond to find some offense, and the Raiders did just that, rallying on the road for the second straight night.

Richmond, down to their final three outs of the game, rallied to pull ahead at 9-5 in the top of the seventh inning. Cody Brown led off with a walk and was sacrificed to second by Ty Bostick. Ryan Mercer drove in Brown with a single, and then Nathan Cain reached on a fielder’s choice, erasing Mercer. Conner singled, moving Cain to third. Andrew Henderson drew a walk to load the bases, and then Luke Bullard plated Cain and Conner with a double. Bullard was 2-for-4 on the night,. also adding a homer.

Alex Dockery hit a base clearing double to score the final two runs for Richmond.

“We battled back tonight in the late innings again, and picked up the win. It shows our guys won’t give up, and some key guys stepped it up late in the game,” Young said.

Richmond (8-2) will look to keep its postseason push alive against Hoke on Thursday night at Raider Field. First pitch is 7 p.m.