WAKEFIELD—Paul Edwards hit a three-run home run and struck out 10 batters to lead the Raiders to their 13th victory of the year, a 9-7 decision over Tidewater Academy on Wednesday.

SA’s victory avenged the Raiders’ only loss of the season — an early-season triumph by Tidewater in Courtland. Southampton is ranked No. 1 in the Virginia Independent Schools’ Division 3 poll.

Quinton Porter led off the game with a walk and advanced to third base on a bunt by Tyler Lass. Porter eventually scored on a wild pitch by Reese Parker to give the Raiders an early 1-0 lead.

The Warriors responded with a run of their own in the bottom of the first. Curtis Pittman tripled and scored on Sam Moore’s single.

The Warriors took the lead in the second inning on a two-run single by Jake Adams. Edwards put the Raiders back in the lead with a three-run home run in the fourth. The Raiders added two more runs in the fifth when Parker walked in two runners.

Tidewater cut the score to 6-5 on a Raider error in the bottom of the fifth. With two outs in the top of the sixth, Lass and Lee Bain hit back-to-back home runs to give the Raiders an 8-5 lead.

Caleb Pearson hit a ground-rule double in the seventh inning and scored the Raiders’ ninth run.

The Warriors battled back and scored two more runs in the bottom of the seventh before Edwards got the last batter to pop out to Pearson at shortstop.

Edwards is 6-0 after pitching his third complete game of the year. Edwards and Bain each hit their second home runs of the year, and Lass hit his first.

The Raiders remain in first place in the Virginia Commonwealth Conference with a record of 12-1. They are 13-1 overall.

SA’s last home game is scheduled for Monday against Amelia Academy. The Raiders will celebrate Senior Day.

In action earlier this week, Craig Beale hit his fourth home run in three games, and Lass pitched five shutout innings to lead the Raiders past visiting Fuqua School 6-3.

Bain scored the first run of the game on a double by Beale in the first inning. The Raiders increased their lead to 2-0 in the second inning when Brandon Tayloe hit a sharp single to right center to drive in Edwards. Porter scored on a double steal and

Lass scored on Beale’s sixth home run of the year to give SA a 5-0 lead after three innings.

Meanwhile, Lass silenced the Falcon batters on three hits through five innings. Fuqua’s Cody Meadows hit a two-run home run in the top of the sixth inning, and the Falcons scored another run on two Raider errors to cut the lead to 5-3.

Robbie Ballard added an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth, when he knocked in Pearson for the final run of the game. Edwards pitched the last inning for the Raiders to close out the victory. Pearson and Bain continued their strong defensive play by handling 10 groundouts during the game. Pearson and Lass finished the game by completing a double-play with the bases loaded in the last inning.