STATESMEN SWEEP DH IN HOME OPENER

PETERSBURG, Va. – Freshman Amanda Archer (Amelia County) hit two home runs, including a grand slam to power the Richard Bland softball team to a doubleheader sweep in its home opener on Sunday afternoon.

The day started with Richard Bland earning a 6-2 victory over the Patriots before the offense exploded for 10 runs in the day's second game for a 10-0 five inning run-rule victory – RBC's first run-ruled win of the season. The wins moved the Statesmen's record to 3-6 on the season, and 2-0 in Region X play.

Freshman pitcher Kristin Saunders (New Kent) came up big at the dish and on the rubber to lead the Statesmen pass the Patriots in game one. Saunders went 2-for-3 and scored one run, while pitching seven innings and allowed no earned runs, six hits, three walks and three strikes.

The game was never in doubt after the second, as the Statesmen posted two runs on a single by Archer. Despite one run in the top of the fifth for Patrick Henry to close the deficit to 3-2, a passed ball set off the Patriots rally but the Statesmen would stop the rally after Saunders got Maghan Fain out.

RBC would answer back with two runs of its own in the fifth and one run in the sixth to close out the game.

Homers paced the Statesmen in the day's second game as RBC blasted two roundtrippers, including the first career home run for Archer, who clubbed both of the home runs of the day.

The biggest inning for the Statesmen came at the third as RBC's bats caught fire leading seven runs.

Sophomore Tara Heatwole (Jamestown) led the way in the circle, holding the Patriots hitless over four innings. PHCC could not get anything going which resulted to RBC's 10-0 victory.

Sophomore Taylor Slate (Brunswick Academy), freshman Whitney Clements (Prince George), Archer and freshman Kim Ellis (L.C. Bird) helped lead the Statesmen. They combined for eight hits and seven RBI's.

Richard Bland will return to action on Monday, March 9, 2015 when they host CCBC Catonsville in a doubleheader. The first pitch is slated for 2 p.m.

For more information on RBC softball, please visit www.rbcathletics.com.

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