STATESMEN TOPPED BY PASCO-HERNANDO, 6-2, IN OPENING REGION X PLAY

BURLINGTON, N.C. (May 6, 2016) -- No. 3 seed Pasco-Hernando State College scored five runs in the top half of the third inning and held off a late comeback by the No. 2 seed Richard Bland College softball team, to register a 6-2 victory in the double-elimination Region X Conference Tournament at Springwood Park on Friday evening. Heavy rains limited first-day play, leaving Saturday with a full slate of contests for the six teams competing in the tournament. 

Down 6-0 heading into its half of the sixth inning, the Statesmen plated two runs to slice into the Conquistadors lead, but Pasco-Hernando starting pitcher Clarissa Lynch was able to limit the damage en route to a complete game victory. 

The Statesmen (18-19) will play a 10 am Saturday game against No. 5 seed Southeastern-Whiteville Community College in the consolation bracket and will need two victories to advance to the tournament final. Pasco-Hernando improves to 20-13 on the season and will play the winner of No. 1 Florence-Darlington and No. 4 Surry Community College. 

The second inning appeared a pivotal time in the contest. The Statesmen had runners on second and third with one out after freshman Shannon Buffington was hit by a pitch and fellow freshman Tabby Dabney singled to center. The Conquistadors turned a double play to end the inning and parlayed that momentum into a five-run third inning, knocking Buffington out of the game. 

Pasco-Hernando scored all five runs with two outs, using a walk, double, two singles and a pair of RBC miscues to tally its five runs. Richard Bland replaced Buffington with freshman  Brittney Wash, who pitched a stellar 4.1 innings, allowing one run on two hits with a strikeout. 

The Statesmen made a late run, getting two runs in the bottom of the sixth after both freshman Maddison Waycaster and sophomore Hannah Barnes reached on consecutive singles and were plated by sophomore Whitney Clements, the Region X Conference Player of the Year.  

Pasco-Hernando's Lynch limited Richard Bland to six hits while striking out six. Buffington shouldered the loss, going 2.2 innings and allowing five runs on five hits with two strikeouts.