Softball team rallies for win

• Starting pitcher Lexi Smith delivers a pitch

Hudson starting pitcher Lexi Smith delivers a pitch to the plate in the Raiders’ season-opening 8-3 victory at New Richmond Friday. Photo by Dave Newman, New Richmond News

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The Raiders’ softball team erupted for six runs in the top of the seventh inning Friday, April 8 to post an 8-3 victory over New Richmond in the season opener for both teams on the Tigers’ home field.

Hudson trailed 3-2 after six innings of play before getting a lead-off single from Sydney Berger to start the seventh. Shelby Berger sacrificed Sydney Berger to second before Deven DuCharme laced a run-scoring double to tie the score, 3-3.

Base hits by Kindra Witthus, Lexi Smith, Alex Johnson and Bridget Warren led to five more Raider runs in the inning. Johnson retired the Tigers in order in the bottom of the seventh to earn the win on the mound.

Hudson took an early 1-0 lead when Maya Triebold led off the second with a triple and scored on a groundout by Smith. New Richmond scored all three of its runs in the bottom of the second to take a 3-1 lead, but Hudson pulled to within a run in the top of the third on back-to-back singles by Smith and Johnson and a wild pitch.

Johnson led the Raiders at the plate with three hits and three RBI while Witthus had two hits and two RBI and Smith and DuCharme added two hits and one RBI each. Sydney Berger also had a pair of hits, including a double, while Monica Hendricks had a sacrifice RBI.

Smith worked the first three innings on the mound and allowed three hits and three runs, although none were earned. She struck out two and walked two before being replaced by Johnson, who allowed two hits over the final four innings while striking out three and walking two.

The Raiders will host Como Park in their home opener Thursday, April 14 at 4 p.m. at Grandview Park.

Tags: sports, softball, raiders, prep