No-hitter, back-to-back victories narrowly elude Spartans
ODESSA – Richmond senior pitcher Lucas Rodenberg flirted with a no-hitter. And the Spartans flirted with winning their final baseball game of the Odessa Tournament.
Rodenberg took a no-no into the sixth inning of Richmond’s March 26 meeting with undefeated Southern Boone at the Odessa Athletic Complex, with three walks precluding his bid for a perfect game. The Eagles, however, touched him for two hits and a run in the sixth en route to edging the Spartans 2-1.
Rodenberg went 6 1/3 innings. His final stat line included four walks, along with the two hits. He also struck out nine.
“I was pounding the (strike) zone pretty … (well),” Rodenberg said. “I felt confident with all my pitches. It’s always a good sign for your first start of the season.”
The start was an “excellent performance,” Richmond coach Nick Persell said.
“Really, he did everything he could and pitched a really good game against a really good baseball program in Southern Boone,” Persell said.
The performance…