Richmond County showed defensive poise that ended the Lady Knights’ hopes in a 3-0 shut out. The home team was able to make use of its five hits, while holding Knightdale’s three hits from doing any damage on the scoreboard.

Much of the weight for the Lady Raiders was carried on the shoulders of pitcher Maggie McKenzie, who single-handedly fended off Knightdale batters through the first three innings of the game.

Knightdale’s downfall came in the bottom of the third when Richmond tallied all three of its runs. The Lady Raiders started the streak with a double on an error from Paige Peterson. A single left runners on first and third, and with one out, C.J. Moose was a step behind a tag-out at third, allowing Richmond to load the diamond.

The grounder that followed equaled the second of the three outs the Knights needed in a major way, but the out came on fielder’s choice to third and allowed a run to be plated. Another single followed, and the two runners still on were pushed home.

“We had our chances to get out of the jam in the third inning,” Knightdale coach Ben Vessa said. “It would have taken an excellent defensive play, but we have been making those kinds of plays all year.”

Knightdale, which finished the 2009 year with an 11-13 record, had a good look at evening things out in the top of the fifth after Moose tripled. But with two down, a solid McKenzie benched Knightdale’s Alex Blough.

Another chance at a Lady Knight comeback came at last call after Lexie Brock started the top of the seventh with a single. But once again Richmond’s defense did its job, collecting two outs before McKenzie walked Lady Knight pitcher Kayla Boggs. Again, McKenzie stuck to the script — and made up for the walk she’d just let slide —as Moose fanned to end the game.

Boggs gave up the five hits to Richmond, striking out one batter. Vessa said he was pleased with her showing. He said she was accurate, and the result was batters falling off on early counts.

“This was the next logical progression for the softball program,” Vessa said.

He said the group has improved its win total every year, and the team’s goal at the start of the season was to qualify for the state playoffs.

“Despite traveling 107 miles and playing a No. 1 seed, I thought we represented ourselves, our school and our conference well, and certainly showed that we belonged in the state tournament.”