WILLIAMSTON — A brisk night couldn’t cool off the Riverside lineup as the Knights belted 13 hits in their 16-6 five-inning victory over Washington on Friday.
In the 45 degree temperature Riverside was red-hot as it produced two runs in the first, four in the second, eight in the fourth and two in the fifth two up its record to 2-0 on the season.
“We had a good night swinging the bat,” Riverside coach Richie Ange said. “It was just one of those nights where we hit the ball on the nose and found holes. Sometimes offensively you just have those types of games.”
The Knights were led by sophomore Mareeva Daniels who went a perfect 4-4 and drove in five RBIs hitting from the cleanup spot.
“She was stroking the softball,” Ange said. “Her eye was good and she seemed to hit it on the nose every time she was at the plate. Mareeva has a lot of potential, she’s a natural.”
The Knights struck with a balanced attack as it got hits from eight of the nine players in its lineup. After Daniels, Erica Gurkin and Kasey Hall were the next leading hitters with two apiece.
The Pam Pack threatened in the top of the third as it scored two runs to cut the Knights lead to 6-2, but Riverside responded with an eight run rally in the bottom of the fourth.
Lawson Perry got the win for the Knights as she pitched all five innings and struck out three while scattering seven hits.
Perry is one of three pitchers looking to fill the cleats of graduated ace Caroline Tetterton and on Friday she made a good pitch to earn the job.
“We lost our pitcher for the last three years in Caroline and we knew we were going to have to find somebody and I think we have three young ladies who can do the job for us in Perry, (Kailey) Baker and Mareeva (Daniels),” Ange said.
Riverside will be back in action on Tuesday when it faces North Pitt.