RICHMOND – Richmond-Burton first baseman Norah Spittler blasted a three-run home run over the center-field fence against McHenry’s Channing Keppy in the bottom of the seventh inning with one out, cutting the Warriors’ once six-run lead to two.

In worsening conditions with a steady rain, Keppy didn’t have time to dwell on the home run.

“I just told myself, ‘Don’t put pressure on yourself because they’re obviously trying to put pressure on me,’ ” said Keppy, a sophomore. “If you put more pressure on yourself, it’s going to get worse, and it’s only going to go more downhill.”

Keppy wiped her hands and got the next two Rockets batters to hit the ball into the infield, and the Warriors defense did the rest. McHenry held on to beat the Rockets, 8-6, in their season opener Tuesday and handed R-B its first loss of the season.

[ Photos: McHenry vs. Richmond-Burton softball ]

Rain was a pain throughout the game, causing both Keppy and Rockets starting pitcher Madison Kunzer to exchange balls with the home plate umpire many times. The worst of the rain came late, as McHenry was trying to hold onto its once 7-1 lead.

“Actually gripping the ball and throwing rise balls and screwballs, that was the hardest part,” said Keppy, who allowed six runs on six hits with four strikeouts and four walks. “My hands started to get cold and wet, and the ball was wet. It just wasn’t good.”

McHenry coach Mikaela Mitsch thought Keppy performed admirably Tuesday, considering the conditions. Keppy was the Warriors No. 1 pitcher as a freshman, posting a 3.34 ERA in 115-plus innings.

“I can’t feel my fingers, and I’m sure no one else could,” Mitsch said. “For a pitcher to not feel your fingers, I’m super happy with what she had to give. She gave everything she could. Everybody did. It was awesome.”

The Warriors (1-0) got off to a fast start against Kunzer, a freshman making her first start at pitcher, getting back-to-back RBI doubles from Emma Stolzman and Abby Geis (2 for 4, two doubles, two runs) and an RBI single from Jadyn Polerecky in the top of the first for a quick 3-0 lead.

McHenry added single runs in the second and third innings on RBI doubles from Gianna Buske (2 for 4) and Natalie Sorensen, taking a 5-1 lead into the fourth.

Stolzman (2 for 4, three RBIS, two runs) then chased Kunzer with a two-out homer in the fourth, scoring Keppy, who reached on a hit-by-pitch.

“I told myself to relax. My coach says when you don’t try to hit home runs, that’s when it happens,” said Stolzman, a junior catcher. “I wasn’t expecting a home run, just to get my runner on first in, or at least move her so we can score.

“It felt nice. It was a big moment for us and got us up and excited.”

R-B freshman pitcher Hailey Holtz, who struck out 15 in her high school debut last week and thew a four-inning no-hitter Monday against Boylan, entered in relief and went the last 3 1/3 innings for the Rockets, allowing a run on two hits with six strikeouts and no walks.

Emerson Herrick (2 for 4) had an RBI double and Holtz scored on a wild pitch in the bottom of the fourth for R-B (2-1), cutting McHenry’s lead to 7-3. The Warriors added a run in the top of the seventh on an RBI grounder by Cooper Ten Bruin. Spittler then hit her homer in the bottom half.

Rockets first-year coach Tylar Stanton was proud of his team’s fight.

“We’ll find a way to get the edge wherever we can,” Stanton said. “The bats aren’t always going to come out hot and the pitching isn’t always going to be perfect, but what they can do is push the limits. All I talked about out there with them is their work ethic, their determination. They never quit, and that’s all I can ask for as a coach.”