RICHARD BLAND SPLITS DH WITH PITT

PETERSBURG, Va. – After falling 6-3 in the first game of the day, the Richard Bland College softball team answered the bell in the day's second game, getting seven brilliant innings from sophomore pitcher Tara Heatwole (Jamestown) to defeat Pitt Community College, 5-3 in the day finale on Saturday on the campus of Richard Bland.

The Lady Bulldogs (14-6 Overall, 4-0 Region X DI) won the first game of the day in a come-from-behind effort. Pitt claimed game one, handing the Statesmen its first loss since Jan. 31 vs. Polk State (9-1) and snaps an eight-game winning streak for the Statesmen, including a eight-game win streak at home.

Tara Heatwole was the star for Richard Bland in the Statesmen win, throwing seven innings strong, allowing three runs over seven innings. The Williamsburg, Va., native struck out four and walked one and surrendered seven hits.

Offensively, Richard Bland (10-7 Overall, 4-0 Region X DII) posted three runs in the third and two runs in the sixth. After the Lady Bulldogs grabbed a 1-0 lead in the top of the third on an error by Abby Eichelberger (Menchville) in right field, RBC rallied by getting a leadoff RBI single from freshman Kim Ellis (L.C. Bird). Ellis would eventually score on a pass ball and Hannah Barnes (Emporia, VA) would score off an error on Pitt's first baseman.

Despite a rally from the Lady Bulldogs in the seventh inning, it would not be enough as the Statesmen piled two more runs in the bottom of the sixth to ultimately secure the victory.

Richard Bland will return to action on Wednesday, March 25 when they host Wake Tech for a Region X doubleheader. First pitch is slated 3 p.m.

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

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