SOFTBALL FINISH DAY ONE IN JUCO KICKOFF

CLEARWATER, Fla. – The Richard Bland College softball team completed day one of the 2015 JUCO Kickoff, 1-3. The Statesmen opened its 2015 season dropping to Northwest Florida State, 8-3; following an 11-1 setback to Georgia Perimeter but the Statesmen would top Pasco-Hernando State in a back-and-forth affair, 9-4. Offense would aplenty in the Statesmen 13-12 loss to Gulf Coast on Friday, Jan. 30.

The Statesmen trailed the first inning, 3-0 to the Raiders before earning two runs to cut the deficit, 3-2 at the bottom of the second. Both teams went scoreless until the sixth inning when Northwest Florida State collected five runs including a homerun. Ultimately, RBC would only score one run in the sixth that resulted in the 8-3, setback.

Despite Whitney Clements's 2-2 performance at the plate, the Statesmen took an 11-1 loss at the hands of Georgia Perimeter. Tara Heatwole (Jamestown) showed strong efforts as she allowed four earned runs over 3 2/3 innings. She gave up six hits while walking one and striking out one.

Georgia Perimeter's Kendra Pfister got the win, she allowed one run over five innings. She struck out none, walked two and gave up three hits.

The Jaguars stayed on top until the final out after taking the lead in the first, scoring five runs on a two-run error and two-run single by Burton.  The Jaguars would add two more runs in the top of the second. However, RBC only managed to score one run in the fourth inning on a solo homer by Clements.

During game three, as both teams exchanged the lead times, the Statesmen would end up on top with a 9-4 win in seven innings over Pasco-Hernando.  A strong hitting performance in the third inning helped the Statesmen secure the victory.

RBC scored on two-run single by Whitney Clements (Prince George) off Brooke Gonzalez, plating Erin Forbes (Camden) and Kristin Saunders (New Kent). A two-run single by Clements scored Forbes and Saunders to give the Statesmen the lead for good.

Hannah Barnes (Emporia) led offensively as she got on base two times and scored two runs including an RBI. She singled in the first inning. Saunders recorded the win, she only allowed three runs over four inning. Saunders struck out two, walked three and gave up five hits.

The final game of the day against Gulf Coast State, the Statesmen would suffer a 13-12, setback in the battle of bats. Cindy Allen (Gloucester) was a perfect 2-2 from the plate as she singed in the second and sixth innings.

Saunders took the loss for the Statesmen at the mound, she lasted four innings, walked one, struck one and allowed five runs.

RBC grabbed the early lead, 6-0 in the first following three runs in the second inning and then three more in the sixth. But Gulf Coast scored nine runs of its own in the second, the Commodores never trailed after scoring one run in the sixth on an RBI single.

The Statesmen return to action on Saturday, Jan. 31 when they take on Daytona State at 9 a.m., following Tallahassee at 1:20 p.m. and Polk State at 3:20 p.m.

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