HOBGOOD, N.C.
The Southampton Academy softball team has opened the season on a torrid pace, scoring 10 or more runs in seven of their last eight games. The Lady Raiders are 9-2 on the season after winning three games at the Hobgood Academy Tournament by a combined total of 38-0.

With their latest showing, Southampton Academy was voted the No. 1 team in the Virginia Independent School Athletic Association Division 3 rankings for the second-consecutive week.

Sophomore pitcher Megan Vincent struck out 12 of the 16 batters she faced over five innings in the tournament opener, an 18-0 win over Northeast Academy of Lasker, North Carolina. The Eagles (2-4) only managed one hit against Vincent, who recorded her first win of the season.

Sophomore Allison Matthews was 2 for 2 with 3 RBIs and three runs scored, while Mason Pope went 2 for 4 with 3 RBIs and crossed the plate twice.

Vincent returned to the mound in the second game of the doubleheader and struck out another 11 batters in the 10-0 victory against Hobgood. She only allowed four hits to the other Lady Raiders (2-2) in her second complete-game shutout of the evening.

Matthews was once again perfect from the plate, bringing in two runs on two doubles. Senior Brooke Mizelle also added two doubles and 2 RBIs.

In the championship round of the tournament, Southampton knocked off Faith Christian Academy of Rocky Mount, North Carolina, to record its second 10-0 win in as many days.

Mizelle was on the bump in the finale, and she struck out 14 while allowing only one hit to lower her earned run average to just over one run per game (1.02). The senior, who will go on to play softball at Salisbury University of Maryland, improved her season record to 7-2.

The pitching staff sat down 37 batters in total, allowing only six hits all weekend, while the offense exploded for 38 runs on 37 hits.

“Our bats were hot all three games,” said assistant coach Scott Speight. “We have really been seeing the ball and making good choices at the plate.”

Southampton Academy traveled to Richmond on Tuesday evening to play against the Central Virginia Homeschool, but results were not available at this paper’s deadline. The team returns home next Monday to host Portsmouth Christian at 4:30 p.m.