Runs at a premium for Raider baseball

The Rice Raiders’ varsity baseball team had some difficulties scoring runs last week as they faced off against a pair of district teams that had things going offensively. Rice suffered two double-digit losses as they ran into a potent Yoakum Bulldogs team before facing off against the Edna Cowboys on Monday, April 10 after a weather postponement during its original date. While the Raiders’ two opponents had strong games at the plate, Rice struggled themselves as they failed to register a hit in two games and scored just one run from both games combined.

Vs Yoakum, L, 15-1

Yoakum wasted no time creating a huge lead over the Raiders with an avalanche of base hits and scores by the Bulldog offense. After the Raiders finished the top of the first inning without a score, the Bulldogs went on to score 11 runs in the bottom of the first as the Raiders struggled to get outs and prevent their opponents from reaching base. Yoakum finished the game with 14 total hits as they ran up the large margin with relative ease. The Raiders broke the deadlock after Aaron Drilik made it home as a pinch runner to break the shut out. Rice had an up-and-down performance with their discipline at the plate, taking positives from drawing five walks in 16 at-bats, but hoping to improve from the seven strikeouts they suffered.

Vs Edna, L, 10-0

The Raiders had an even tougher time against the Cowboys during postponed play on Monday as they failed to prevent the shutout defeat. They ran into familiar offensive difficulties as they could not find ways to reach base and had even fewer runners reach scoring positions. Edna’s offense did not have the same difficulties during their offensive possessions. While Edna successfully reached double digits, the Raiders did not allow the Cowboys to have an inning as effective as the Bulldogs from their prior game. They got a lot of support in slowing down the Cowboys from a pitching staff that combined for 10 total strikeouts. Daedrick Johnson got the start and racked up six strikeouts at the plate. Omarion Johnson relieved Daedrick and picked up four strikeouts himself before officials called the game by mercy rule at the end of the fifth inning.