STATESMEN SWEEP COLLEGE OF JOSEPH

PETERSBURG, Va., - The Richard Bland College softball team hit two home runs one in each game, including a 10-run explosion in the fourth inning of game one that carried the Statesmen to a 15-2 win in five innings and 13-5 also in five innings over the College of St. Joseph at the Statesmen Softball Field on Thursday afternoon.

The Statesmen extended its winning streak to eight games and improve to 9-6 on the season. The Fighting Saints dropped to 0-6 on the season.

Game one was back and forth heading into the second until the Statesmen went up for good on an RBI single by Taylor Slate (Emporia, VA) to bring home Cindy Allen (Gloucester, VA).

Slate racked up four RBIs on three hits, while Hannah Barnes (Emporia, VA) collected four RBIs, including a home run and two hits.

New Kent High School product, Kristin Saunders would get it done at the mound, allowing two runs over two innings, giving up one hit and walking two. Tara Heatwole (Jamestown) would earn the save after she went in for Saunders in the third inning, allowing one hit, striking out six with no runs.

In the second game, the Statesmen picked up where they left off in the first game after Amanda Archer (Amelia County) hit her third home run on the season to tie the game at one all in the first inning.

The Statesmen would erupt and score six runs in the second inning to lead 7-2 until the Fighting Saints managed to claw its way back in the game to score three runs of its own in the fourth inning.

RBC piled on three more runs in the bottom of the fifth as Slate singled, scoring Abby Eichelberger (Newport News, VA) to start the inning. That followed up by Erin Forbes (Camden, NC) triple, plating Slate and Archer.

Heatwole held the Fighting Saints hitless over two innings, allowing no earned runs, walking one and striking out four. Allen would ultimately record the win for the Statesmen although she allowed five runs over three innings. Allen struck out none, walked four and gave up six hits.

The Statesmen will return to action on Friday, March 20 for another doubleheader against the College of St. Joseph. First pitch is slated for 3 p.m.

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

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