GAME 1 PITCHING, GAME 2 HITTING FUELS SOFTBALL TO DH SWEEP OVER WAKE TECH

PETERSBURG, Va. – By far one the best performances the Statesmen have had all season long came on Wednesday afternoon when the No. 14 Richard Bland Statesmen softball team combined for 23 hits, 22 RBIs, one home run and 23 runs, while Kristin Saunders (New Kent, VA), Tara Heatwole (Williamsburg, VA) and Mickie Williams (Fredericksburg, VA) combined for a shutout in 12 dominating innings in the circle to sweep Wake Technical Community College in a Region X conference matchup.

The Statesmen improve to 12-7 overall and 6-0 in the league. The Lady Eagles drop to 1-11 overall and 0-4 in conference play.

Richard Bland started the day with a 7-0 victory over the Lady Eagles before toppling Wake Tech 16-0 in the day's second game. The two victories were the fifth and sixth for the Statesmen, marking RBC undefeated in Region X play.

RBC will have short time to celebrate the victories as the Statesmen travel to Florence-Darlington Technical College at 12 noon on Saturday, March 27 in Florence, S.C.

The Statesmen earned eight hits in the day's first game, including six RBI. Richard Bland scored seven runs in the first three innings as Amanda Archer (Amelia County) doubled to right field during the first to collect an RBI. Erin Forbes (Camden, NC) would give the Statesmen more power offensively after she put herself in scoring position with two extra-base hits, followed by a triple in the third and fourth innings.

Saunders, Forbes, Haley Olson (Richmond, VA) and Archer combined for six hits and three RBIs.

In the circle, Saunders would get the win. She kept Wake Tech off the scoreboard, allowing no opposing players to cross the plate on seven hits while striking out three.

In the second game, it was the Statesmen bats that was the story for Richard Bland with Heatwole tossing three innings with three hits allowed and four strikeouts while Williams allowed two hits and one strikeout over two innings of pitching.

Offensively, Richard Bland finished with 16 hits in the day's second game with Olson charting her first career home run on the season, while Saunders recorded four RBIs to give the Statesmen an 11-0 lead it wouldn't relinquish. The Statesmen drew four walks in the game off Wake Tech's Brittany Murray and Hayle Pittman in the pitching position.

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

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