ARCHER'S BAT, STELLAR PITCHING AND DEFENSE LEADS TO SOFTBALL SWEEP

PETERSBURG, Va., (Mar. 26, 2016) – For a second consecutive weekend, sophomore Amanda Archer came up big when her Richard Bland College softball teammates needed her the most.

Down 2-0 in the bottom of the sixth inning in the first game of a doubleheader against visiting Patrick Henry Community College, Archer bombed a game-tying home run over the left field fence that dramatically swayed momentum in the Statesmen's favor. It led to a bottom of the seventh RBI from sophomore Whitney Clements, propelling Richard Bland to a doubleheader sweep by identical 3-2 scores in Region X Conference action at Statesman Field.

In the second game, freshman Shannon Buffington earned her ninth win of the season with a three-hit gem, while the RBC defense sparkled with an errorless game as the Statesmen earned a clutch 3-2 victory. The doubleheder sweep improves Richard Bland to 10-14, 6-2, while Patrick Henry drops to 3-10, 3-4. The Statesmen are back in action with a road contest against Wake Technical Community College on Tuesday, Mar. 29 at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. Patrick Henry next hosts Richard Bland on Friday, April 1.

Richard Bland 3, Patrick Henry 2

The Statesmen needed the full seven innings to dispose of a Patriots team that held a 2-0 lead heading into the bottom of the sixth. Patrick Henry plated two runs off RBC freshman starter Tabby Dabney in the fourth, parlaying a leadoff walk, fielder's choice and a pair of singles to break a scoreless game. If not for the dazzling infield defense of RBC sophomore second baseman Kimberly Ellis, Patrick Henry may have manufactured more runs from its offense that hit the ball hard in securing seven hits.

Clements was the catalyst in both the sixth and seventh innings. Her leadoff walk in the sixth inning saw her touch home plate after Archer's second round tripper of the season. In the seventh, after sophomore Mikie Williams led off the seventh with yet another clutch pinch hit single, looping her hit into short leftfield, she scored the winning run following Clements' line single to center.

Buffington relieved Dabney, who pitched another strong game, in the seventh, and closed the door for her eighth win of the season. Dabney allowed six hits and struck out four. Archer, Clements and freshman August Ringer each had two hits in the contest.

Richard Bland 3, Patrick Henry 2

Buffington pitched a gem, scattering three hits in her complete-game victory. She struck out two and walked one. Her defense was stellar, especially in the seventh inning after a leadoff Patrick Henry batter opened with a hit. Ellis made two putouts in the inning – off a grounder and pop-up, and after the PHCC runner advanced to third, got a sliding catch for the final out from sophomore centerfielder Hayley Olson

The Statesmen had six hits in the second game, pushing across two runs in the bottom of the second inning, keyed by an Archer double to leftfield. Ringer followed with a single to left and a subsequent PHCC error off the bat of freshman Maddison Waycaster scored Archer. Ringer scored RBC's second run off a sacrifice from freshman Morgan Whitley. Richard Bland earned its game-winning run in its half of the third after sophomore Hannah Barnes led off with a single, stole second and was driven home off an Ellis RBI hit to centerfield.

Patrick Henry got within 3-2 in the fifth, earning two of its three hits with ta pair of singles combined with a walk and a sacrifice fly off Buffington. The ace of the RBC staff closed the door after those two runs and was virtually perfect the final two frames.

Archer had two hits for the Statesmen.