STATESMEN FALL TO NATIONALLY-RANKED CHIPOLA AT JUCO KICKOFF CLASSIC

CLEARWATER, FL. (Jan. 31, 2016) — Sophomore Whitney Clements went 3-4 at the plate, but her offense wasn't enough to curtail a strong offensive game by pre-season No. 4 nationally ranked Division I Chipola College. The Indians, behind timely hitting, defeated the Richard Bland College softball team 11-4 on Sunday morning in the final day of play for the Statesmen at the JUCO Kickoff Classic. 

The Statesmen got on the board first, scoring two runs to open the game following singles by sophomores Hannah Barnes and Abby Eichelberger. Clements singled home Barnes and Eichelberger scored on a fielder's choice. Richard Bland banged out 11 hits in the game, its best offensive output in the seven games played at the JUCO Kickoff Classic. 

Chipola answered with four runs in the bottom of the first and never tailed in the game. Richard Bland narrowed the score to 5-3 after three innings after pushing across a run, but the Indians countered with two runs in the bottom of the third and tacked on two more runs in the fifth and sixth innings.

Morgan Whitley accounted for two of Richard Bland's RBI in the game.

Nalleli Lopez, Brianna Surrento, Brooke Williams and Courtney Davis helped lead the Chipola attack, combining for seven hits and six RBI. Shannon Buffington was the pitcher of record for RBC.

"We expected and knew we would face very strong teams, several of which were nationally ranked heading into the season," said Richard Bland head coach Martha Covington. "You learn a lot from playing this type of top calibre Division I teams and while we have things to work on, we grew each game and played better each time out."

Richard Bland (0-7), begins its 2016 season in earnest on Feb. 21 when visiting Florence-Darlington Technical College in doubleheader action starting at Noon.