No. 13 RBC SOFTBALL EARNS SPLIT IN DOUBLEHEADER AT SURRY

DOBSON, N.C.  – The Richard Bland College women's softball team suffered a 5-4 setback then picked up a 5-4 victory in a Region X Conference doubleheader against the Surry Community College Lady Knights on Friday, April 3 at the Fish River Complex. RBC improves to 17-8 overall and 11-1 in the league while Surry drops to 19-8 and 7-1 in conference play.

In the opener, the Statesmen jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the top of the first after Taylor Slate (Emporia, VA) singled followed by a ground out from Hannah Barnes (Emporia, VA) to move Slate from first to second. A single by Whitney Clements (Prince George, VA) and Erin Forbes (Camden, NC) reaching base on an error would get things going as Slate was able to score following Clements run to home plate off a fielder's choice.

Surry would score once at the bottom of the first and then go on to score another run in the second leaving the Statesmen scoreless as the game became tied at two over the next two innings.

RBC would make a run in the fifth after Kimberly Ellis (Chesterfield, VA) bunted to reach first base. Slate would earn a sacrifice after she helped Ellis advance to second and Barnes singled to centerfield advancing Ellis to third, she would eventually score to give the Statesmen the lead again, 3-2.

The Lady Knights scored two runs on a two-run home despite the Statesmen one run in the seventh it would not be enough to secure the win. Surry produced five hits to the Statesmen eight and scored five runs to clinch game one over the Statesmen.

Freshman pitcher Kristin Saunders (New Kent, VA) started off the game but sophomore Tara Heatwole (Williamsburg, VA) pitched one inning in the loss.

In the day's second game, RBC was led by Hayley Olson (Richmond, VA) who went 2-of-3 from the plate, scoring one run. Olson tripled in the second inning and singled in the fourth.

The Statesmen got off to a great start scoring one run in the second, two runs in the third following one run in both the fourth and seventh inning.

Richard Bland held the Lady Knights scoreless and stayed on top until the bottom of the seventh when they allowed Surry to score four runs but it would not be enough to overcome the big lead the Statesmen built in the second, third and fourth.

Heatwole would earn the win as she got it done on the rubber, allowing four runs over seven innings of play. She struck out five, walked one and surrendered nine hits.

Richard Bland will return to action on Saturday, April 3 against Surry Community College again for another doubleheader. First pitch is slated for 12 noon.

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

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