Richard Bland Splits Against Visiting Harford (Md.) 4-6, 12-4

SOUTH PRINCE GEORGE, Va. -- Sophomore Tabby Dabney/Mechanicsville, along with freshmen Taylor Daniel/Alberta and Kay'Lee Justice/Suffolk, each had three hits and two RBIs in game two, while Daniel and sophomore Morgan Whitley/Franklin each had two hits in game one, as Richard Bland College split a softball doubleheader against Harford (Md.) Community College on Friday at Richard Bland.  Dabney earned the five-inning pitching victory in the 12-4 run-rule nightcap for the host Statesmen (4-7), while classmate Shannon Buffington/Virginia Beach took the pitching setback in the 6-4 opener against the visiting Fighting Owls (1-1). 

In game two, Richard Bland scored seven runs in the bottom of the first inning, adding three runs in the third and single runs in both the fourth and fifth innings for the shortened eight-run triumph.  In the first, sophomore August Ringer/Yale (3-4, RBI) singled to lead-off, advanced to second on a ground ball and scored when classmate Katelyn King/Chesterfield (1-4) reached on a throwing error and advanced to second.  Dabney (3-4, 2 RBIs) followed with a single that moved King to third, and promptly stole second base, before freshman Brooklynn Bilyard/Culpeper (2-3, RBI) plated King with a run-scoring single.  Bilyard stole second ahead of a two-run triple to the fence in right-center field by Justice (3-3, 2 RBIs) that scored both Dabney and Bilyard, while Justice also crossed the plate on the play.  Freshmen Kennedy Presson/Wakefield (1-3) and Kamryn Lanier/Chester (1-3) followed with a double and single, respectively, and they scored on run-scoring singles by Ringer and Daniel (3-4, 2 RBIs).

The Statesmen scored in the third when Ringer reached on a two-out infield single and scored on an RBI double to left field by Daniel.  Daniel crossed the plate when King reached on another infield single and advanced a base on a throwing error.  King scored on a run-scoring double to left-center field by Dabney.  In the fourth, Justice led off with a double down the left field line and scored when Presson reached on a fielding error.  In the decisive fifth, Daniel opened with a single and later crossed the plate with the game-ending run courtesy of an RBI single by Dabney. 

Dabney, Daniel, Justice and Ringer each had three hits in the second game, while Bilyard collected two hits in the nightcap for Richard Bland.

Dabney (2-2) started in the circle and garnered the pitching triumph with the 5.0 innings, scattering six hits and four runs, three earned, with four strikeouts and no walks. 

In game one, Richard Bland trailed 5-0 in the sixth inning before scoring four runs in the sixth, but yielded another run in the seventh.  In the sixth, Daniel (2-4), Dabney (1-3) and Bilyard (1-2) each singled to load the bases with one out.  Justice (0-4, RBI) reached on a fielding error in left field, advancing to second, while Daniel and Dabney scored with Bilyard moving to third.  Bilyard crossed the plate courtesy a sacrifice fly to center field by Lanier (0-2, RBI), and Justice scored on an RBI single by Presson (1-2, RBI).

Daniel and Whitley (2-3) each collected two hits in the opener for Richard Bland. 

Buffington (2-3) started in the circle and took the pitching setback with the complete 7.0 innings, allowing nine hits and six runs, four earned, with five strikeouts and no walks.

Richard Bland is idle until traveling to the College of Southern Maryland for a doubleheader on March 8 at 2 p.m. in La Plata, Maryland.  The Statesmen return home to host Region 10 opponent Southeastern Community College-Whiteville (N.C.) on Friday, March 10 for a pair of games starting at 2 p.m.