WASHINGTON – Ridgecroft School opened their 2018 softball season by picking up a pair of Tarheel Independent Conference victories. 

The Lady Rams opened the season defeating Terra Ceia Christian School 16-1 at the Susie Gray McConnell Complex in Washington, NC on Mar. 5; then pounded Hobgood 13-3 at home on Thursday.

Against Terra Ceia, the Rams scored seven times in the top of the first. Mandy Spence doubled, Sydney Lane singled, Isabella Woodard doubled and Grace Vaughan singled to get things rolling well for the visiting Rams. Courtney Taylor, Skylar Brown and Camryn Joyner each walked and all scored due to an Alana Hull fielder’s choice and an error by the shortstop on a batted ball by Spence.

Ridgecroft kept up the pace, scoring six more in the second thanks to doubles by Joyner and Reagan King mixed in with several base on balls and another defensive error. The final three Ram runs were scored in the third highlighted by singles from King, Spence and Lane.

Terra Ceia’s only run came in the 5th inning when Emily Roscoe singled and later scored on an RBI single by Bianca Torres.

Reagan King, Mandy Spence and Sydney Lane each had two Ridgecroft hits while Isabella Woodard, Grace Vaughan and Camryn Joyner singled. Mandy Spence was the starting and winning pitcher for the Rams; going two innings, striking out four and allowing no runs, one hit and one walk.  Clayson Spence pitched the final three innings in relief. She allowed one run, three hits, four walks, and four strikeouts.

Thursday, Ridgecroft won its straight by beating Hobgood Academy 13-3 at Ridgecroft.

Ridgecroft got on the board in the bottom of the first with a King lead-off double followed by a base hit by Mandy Spence. A fielder’s choice by Lane scored King and a sacrifice fly by Vaughan scored Lane.

In the 2nd inning the Rams put up four more runs on a mix of hits, walks and errors that allowed King, Lane, Joyner and Brooke Rose to score.

Brown and Joyner scored for the Rams in the 3rd inning and Lane, Woodard, Vaughan, Brown and Alana Hull all scored in the 4th inning to finish the Rams scoring for the game.

Hobgood scored three unearned runs in the 4th.

Mandy Spence was the winning pitcher as she pitched a complete game (five innings) and allowed no earned runs, only one hit, four walks, and she struck out 11.

At the plate, Reagan King was 2-for-4, Camryn Joyner 2-for-3, Mandy Spence 1-for-4, Sydney Lane and Isabella Woodard both 1-for-2.

The game was played in Ahoskie due to a wet field in Hobgood. The Apr. 9 game with the Raiders will now be played away.  The Rams’ next home game is Monday against Northeast Academy at 4 p.m.