First Posted: 4/18/2014

LUMBERTON — It was fitting that the Richmond softball team clinched the Southeastern Conference regular season title with a shutout.

After all, the Raiders have yet to lose this season.

Summer Jacobs scattered four hits and struck out four as Richmond blanked Lumberton 5-0 Thursday to improve to 17-0 overall and 8-0 in the SEC.

The Raiders haven’t lost a regular season conference game in 21 tries, dating back to a 6-5 loss at Purnell Swett on April 17, 2012.

The Pirates (4-11, 3-5) were limited to four hits, each from different players and had one error. Danielle Smith threw a complete game and allowed 10 hits

Doodle Jacobs led the offensive attack for Richmond, going 4-for-4 with a run batted in. Jessica Steen was 2-for-4 with an RBI. Ashton Davenport and Summer Jacobs also knocked in a run.

Lumberton coach Mackie Register felt the game was an improvement from the first time the teams played.

“If we play like we did yesterday, we have a good chance of being in the thick of things at Slugfest,” Register said.

The loss put the Pirates in fifth place in the SEC standings. They’ll have to win each of their final two games to stay in the hunt for a playoff berth.

“If we can put it together and play good for two weeks we can salvage the season,” Register said.

In other area games on Thursday, Fairmont baseball beat Red Springs 12-0 to clinch the Three Rivers conference title outright and South Robeson softball beat St. Pauls 21-2.

Rain alters UNCP baseball schedule

SAVANNAH, Ga. — With inclement weather forecast for the region today, the baseball series between No. 17 University of North Carolina at Pembroke and Armstrong Atlantic has been altered.

The weekend set will now get underway with a noon doubleheader on Saturday, and is scheduled to conclude with a single game on Sunday. First pitch of the Easter Sunday finale is slated for 1 p.m.

Cloninger, Hartley named All-PBC

FLORENCE, S.C. — Coming off a season with the most Peach Belt Conference victories since 2010, the UNCP softball team was represented by Taylor Cloninger and Brea Hartley on the PBC All-Conference first team for the second-straight year.

Cloninger played in 45 games with 40 hits, 21 runs, six doubles, one triple and two home runs. Hartley, a Lexington native, finished the season with a .331 batting average and 30 RBI with 44 hits.

Armstrong’s Alexis Mercer was named Player of the Year for the second time, while Victoria Sink, of North Georgia, earned Pitcher of the Year. North Georgia’s Mike Davenport was named Coach of the Year and Mackenzie Conley, of Flagler, nabbed Freshman of the Year.

Mullman earns Elite-15 award

PINE MOUNTAIN, Ga. — UNCP golfer Michael Mullmann was selected as the Peach Belt Conference mens golf Elite 15 Award recipient for the second straight year.

The award is presented to the student-athlete with the highest cumulative grade-point average participating at the championship site for each of the 15 PBC championships.

Mullmann, who maintains a 3.955 grade point average in business administration at UNCP, has compiled a 76.0 stroke average in eight events and 21 rounds this season.

Thompson makes All-Conference

AUGUSTA, Ga. — The 22nd-ranked UNCP womens golf team was represented by freshman Ashlii Thompson on the All-Peach Belt Conference squad. Thompson grabbed a spot on the first-team squad, marking the fifth-straight year that at least one UNCP player was decorated with first team laurels.

Thompson has compiled a 77.5 stroke average across nine events and 17 rounds this season, logging seven top-10 finishes with three finishes in the top five.