The Mathews High School varsity softball team suffered its first loss of 2017 to the Rappahannock Raiders, 7-6, on the road Tuesday.

MHS sent eight batters to the plate and scored three runs in the first inning, and added two more runs in the third to lead the Raiders 5-0 early. Rappahannock pulled within one run by the end of the fourth inning.

The Lady Devils held a one-run lead going into the bottom of the seventh. With one out, a Rappahannock single put the tying run on first base and the next batter ended the game with a two-run walk-off home run.

Madison South pitched a complete game for Mathews, allowing 10 hits and one walk while striking out three. Keely Crittenden was 2-for-3 with two singles, a walk, and two RBIs; Kirsten Beatley was 2-for-3 with two singles; Ellie Armistead batted 2-for-4 with a single, triple, and two RBIs, and Madisyn Jackson was 2-for-4 with two singles.

Prior to the Rappahannock loss, Mathews posted wins over Nandua and St. Margaret’s School. ...