SOFTBALL DROPS THREE TO OPEN PLAY AT COMPETITIVE JUCO KICKOFF
| Final (9) | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Richard Bland College | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 8 | 2 |
|
State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 11 | 14 | 1 |
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Pasco-Hernando State College | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 9 | 14 | 2 |
|
Richard Bland College | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 9 | 2 |
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Northwest Florida State College | 0 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 13 | 2 |
|
Richard Bland College | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 |
CLEARWATER, FL., (Jan. 29, 2016) — On the first day competing at the highly-competitive JUCO Kickoff Classic against some of the nation's premier programs, the Richard Bland College softball team dropped three games in its season opening day in games played in Clearwater, Florida. Richard Bland fell to a pair of Division I opponents, Northwest Florida State College 16-0, and State College of Florida-Manatee 11-6 (nine innings), along with Division II Pasco-Hernando State College, 9-6.
The Statesmen expected strong competition in the three day event, which continues on Saturday and Sunday. Richard Bland (0-3) plays three more games on Saturday at the JUCO Kickoff, starting with a 9:00 a.m. game against Hillsborough Community College.
"We progressed offensively and defensively with each game," said Richard Bland head coach Martha Covington. "The games we play at the JUCO Kickoff are against very good programs. They're going to help us with our team goals this season, which is to improve each and every game and compete for a Region X Conference championship."
In the season opener, the Northwest Florida jumped out to a 7-0 lead after the second and 14-0 lead after three in earning the 16-0 victory in five innings. Northwest Florida sophomore pitcher Savannah McHellon was strong throughout, limiting the Statesmen to two hits while striking out 11. Freshman Katelyn Cobb, making her season debut for the Statesmen, was the pitcher of record on the losing side.
The second and third contests were much tighter for the Statesmen, particularly against State College of Florida, which broke free from a 6-6 tie in the top of the ninth by plating five runs for the 11-6 victory. The Manatees jumped out to a 4-0 lead heading into the bottom of the fifth. The Statesmen got a run back following Whitney Clements single to center field that brought home Hannah Barnes.
The Statesmen tied the contest 5-5 in the bottom of the seventh inning following a four run rally. The big hit came from sophomore Amanda Archer, who doubled home Tiffany Hedge and later scored on a single to right field by sophomore Hayley Olson. Each team added a run in the eighth inning and the Manatees secured the victory with five runs, all manufactured from singles, in the top of the ninth. Clements, Archer and Olson all had two hits each for Richard Bland. Freshman Shannon Buffington was pitcher of record for the Statesmen.
In the third game of the day, the Statesmen found themselves in catchup mode after falling behind 5-2 after four innings, but took a 6-5 lead heading into the top of the seventh inning. Down 5-2, the Statesmen tied the game in the bottom of the fifth with three runs. Clements, who had another two hit game, drove in sophomore Abby Eichelberger with RBC's third run and Archer's bat brought home the next two runs as Barnes and Kim Ellis crossed the plate. RBC took a 6-5 lead after six innings following an Ellis single to left field brought home Morgan Whitley.
The Statesmen were unable to hold the lead, however, allowing four runs in the top of the seventh on four Pasco-Hernando singles. Freshman Tabby Dabney was the pitcher of record for RBC.