RICHMOND – The Spartans had little reason for concern about their pitching after getting a combined no-hitter from seniors Lucas Rodenberg and Spencer Wolf in their 5-0 win April 1 over Lafayette County of Higginsville. Offense was another matter. “We won 5-0, but really need to improve our at-bats throughout a game,” Richmond varsity coach Nick Persell said. “Today” was Monday, when the Spartans fell to Knob Noster 8-4 at Southview Park in Missouri River Valley Conference East Division play. “Knob Noster did good putting the ball in play and we just didn’t do that today,” Persell said. In the first inning, the Panthers put the ball in play enough to post three runs, as they went through the order. “Our bats came alive in the first inning, which is something that we’ve been wanting to do all season, but we haven’t really taken advantage of it,” Knob Noster coach Bill Bivins said. “But they … (came) out alive today in the first inning. We were able to get up 3-0 and that set the…