No. 13 RBC SOFTBALL SPLITS DH AT SURRY
DOBSON, N.C. – The Richard Bland College women's softball team split a doubleheader with Surry Community College on Saturday afternoon at the Fish River Complex Field, winning the day's first game 6-1 but falling 6-5 in the second game.
Richard Bland (18-9 overall, 12-2 Region X) pounded 20 hits on the day, including four home runs and 10 RBI in the split while Surry (20-9 overall, 7-1 Region X) posted 12 hits, three home runs and 6 RBI.
Richard Bland wasted no time, jumping out to a 3-0 lead in second inning of the first game. Freshman Whitney Clements (Prince George, VA) hit a double to leftfield and then Erin Forbes singled to centerfield to advance Clements, she would score the game's first run in the first inning.
In the second inning, freshman Hayley Olson (Richmond, VA) hit her second home run of the season to give the Statesmen a 2-0 lead, while sophomore Cindy Allen (Gloucester, VA) would follow Olson's homer, hitting a home run of her own to put RBC up 3-0.
The Statesmen would hold onto its lead over two innings until Surry's Griffin homered to leftfield to cut the deficit to 3-1.
In the fourth inning, Allen would continue to get things going offensively when she singled to leftfield. After sophomore Taylor Slate (Emporia, VA) was walked, freshman Hannah Barnes (Emporia, VA) earned an RBI after she singled to right field advancing runners Allen and Slate, Allen would score on the play. The Statesmen would score two more runs to seal the deal with a 6-1 victory over the Lady Knights.
Sophomore Tara Heatwole (Williamsburg, VA) was a workhorse on the rubber while bagging the win for the Statesmen, she pitched seven innings and allowed one earned run, four hits and two walks, while striking out four.
Opposite of the game one, Surry scored three runs in the first inning, when Rachel Wagoner homered to leftfield to bring home teammates Regan Gentry and Lacey Grubbs to give the Lady Knights an early 3-0 lead in the day's second game.
Freshman Amanda Archer (Amelia, VA) would hit her third career home run on the season in the top of the second inning to give the Statesmen its first run of the game as the Statesmen trailed 3-1.
In the third innings, things became hot for the Statesmen, when Clements hit her first homer on the season to centerfield bringing home Slate which would tie the game at 3 even heading into the fourth inning.
The Lady Knights answered Clements' homer with Wagoner hitting another home run into leftfield to give Surry the 4-3 lead. After a walk and hit by pitch from freshman Kirstin Saunders, Surry was able to score after Gentry singled to centerfield plating Hayley Tickle before Sydney Caudle scored on an error by Olson.
RBC scored one more run in the seventh after Slate doubled to advance freshman Kimberly Ellis (Chesterfield, VA) in scoring position, with the Lady Knights holding on to a 6-4 advantage over the Statesmen. The Statesmen scored one more run in the bottom of the seventh to keep the game alive but it would not be enough as the Lady Knights was able to hold on for the 6-5 victory.
Richard Bland will return to action on Monday, April 6 when they travel to Wake Technical Community College for a Region X Conference matchup. First pitch is slated for 2 p.m.
For more information on RBC track and field, please visit www.rbcathletics.com.
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