Things did not look too good for the Scotland softball team early in its game with Richmond Thursday afternoon.

Scots Coach Patrick Williams had been sick, and the team was trailing its archrivals, who had beaten them twice during the regular season, by four runs on the road after three innings of play.

In the fourth inning, the tide turned

Scotland plated five runs over the fourth and fifth innings, and held off a late charge from the Raiders for a 5-4 win in the championship game of the inaugural Southeastern Conference Tournament at Raider Field.

Despite both teams having runners in scoring position over the first two innings, neither team could put a run across the board.

Richmond (13-10) changed all that in the bottom of the third.

The Raiders collected four runs, highlighted by a two-run double from Kandace Frye as it looked like Richmond was going to blow a close game open like they had done in its previou matchups with their rivals from Scotland County.

Scotland (17-3) would respond in the top of the fourth.

Lindsey Wright, who reached base with a double, advanced to third following a squeeze play from Collins. Zannie McNeil would score on the play.

Pitcher Cori Newton helped herself out by driving in Wright with a single to cut the lead to 4-2.

A routine grounder off the bat of Brittany Gibson, allowed two more runs to score after Richmond’s Brittani Hodges, threw the ball wild to first base.

The following inning, Collins made it a 5-4 Scots lead with an RBI single.

“We just didn’t care of business on defense,” Richmond interim Coach Shelley Wimpey said.

“We committed too many errors and they (Scotland) took advantage of them.”

Newton, pitching on a days rest, threw a complete game from inside the circle, allowing seven hits, while walking three and striking out four.

Richmond had the tying run in scoring position following a lead off double by Maggie McKenzie.

The Raiders starting pitcher, moved to third on a sacrifice, but got no further as Newton induced fly outs to Shae Barnes and Collins for the final outs.

McKenzie, who finished 2-for-3 in the game, took the loss, striking out just four batters in five innings of work.

Allyson Wood (2-for-4) and Alex Gardner (2-for-3) joined McKenzie in multiple hits for the Raiders.