#18 STATESMEN PUT UP A FIGHT BUT ENDS SEASON ON FIRST DAY OF POST SEASON TOURNAMENT
BURLINGTON, NC, May 2, 2014
Game One- PHCC 2, Statesmen 1
Tara Heatwole allowed just two runs on Friday against Patrick Henry CC, but the Statesmen couldn't get the offense going in a 2-1 defeat to the Patriots. Heatwole handled PHCC's lineup with ease, racking up eight strikeouts. She allowed one earned run, three hits and one walk over seven innings.
Patrick Henry stayed on top until the final out after taking the lead in the second, scoring two runs on a fielder's choice. The lone run of the game for Richard Bland crossed the plate in the fifth inning on an RBI single by Ayannah Bowman-Williams.
Game Two- Statesmen 6, Wake Tech 5
Taylor Slate drove in the winning run to give Richard Bland the lead in the sixth inning, as the Statesmen hung on to beat Wake Tech CC 6-5 Friday. Slate came to the plate with one out in the sixth and homered, scoring Ayannah Bowman-Williams. Slate had a busy day at the plate, collecting two extra base hits.
Wake Tech couldn't get anything going as long as Tara Heatwole was on the hill. Heatwole gave up just one hit, allowed one earned run, walked one and struck out six during her four innings of work.
Bowman-Williams, Slate and Krysten Davis helped lead Richard Bland. They combined for eight hits and three RBI's.
Game Three-Surry 3, Statesmen 2
Tara Heatwole both hit and pitched well for the Statesmen, but it wasn't enough as Richard Bland fell to Surry CC 3-2 Friday, in the NJCAA Region X DII tournament.
Heatwole was hot from the plate for the Statesmen. She went 2-3 and drove in one and singled in the second and fourth innings.
Heatwole handled Surry's lineup with ease, racking up six strikeouts. She allowed two earned runs, seven hits and no walks over seven innings.
In the top of the third, Surry grabbed the early lead, 1-0. The Knights started the rally with a single. A goundout moved the runner from first to second base.
The game was never in doubt after the fifth, as Surry scored two runs on an error and an RBI single.
The Statesmen finished the season ranked #18 in the country and with a record of 24-11 in their first ever season in intercollegiate athletics.