Richard Bland Sweeps Pair At Wake Tech (N.C.) 15-1 (5), 13-4 (6)

RALEIGH, N.C. -- Freshman Kay'Lee Justice/Suffolk had six hits, including three home runs, and five RBIs, and sophomore Tabby Dabney/Mechanicsville had three hits, including one home run, and four RBIs, to lead Richard Bland College to a Region 10 softball doubleheader sweep at Wake Technical (N.C.) Community College on Thursday in Raleigh, North Carolina.  Dabney earned the five-inning pitching victory in the 15-1 opener for the visiting Statesmen (11-14, 9-3), while sophomore Shannon Buffington/Virginia Beach gained the six-inning pitching win in the 13-4 nightcap against the host Eagles (2-10, 0-8).

In the first game, Richard Bland scored 15 runs on 17 hits, plating two runs in the first inning, six runs in the third, two runs in the fourth and five more runs in the fifth.  In the first, Justice (3-4, 2 RBIs) reached on a two-out error that allowed sophomore August Ringer/Yale (2-4, RBI), who had opened the game with an infield single, to cross the plate.  Justice later scored on an RBI single by freshman Kennedy Presson/Wakefield (1-4, RBI). 

In the third, sophomore Katelyn King/Chesterfield (3-4, RBI) and freshman Taylor Daniel/Alberta (2-3, RBI) each had run-scoring singles, sophomore Morgan Whitley/Franklin (2-3, 2 RBIs) added a two-run single and Ringer had an RBI triple before stealing home to score, as well.  Dabney (1-4), Justice, King, Whitley and Daniel also scored during the at-bat.  In the fourth, Justice opened the frame with her first homer of the day, and Whitley crossed the plate courtesy of a wild pitch.  In the fifth, Justice pounded her second solo homer with one out, followed by King scoring with two outs when sophomore Sierra Johnson/Capron (0-1) reached on an error and later scored on an RBI single by freshman Ashley Fritz/North Chesterfield (2-3, RBI), who crossed the plate ahead of classmate Kamryn Lanier/Chester (1-1, 2 RBIs), who hit a two-run home run while pinch-hitting with two outs.

Justice and King each collected three hits in game one for Richard Bland, while Daniel, Fritz, Ringer and Whitley each had two hits in the opener. 

Dabney (4-4) started in the circle and tossed the complete-game 5.0 innings, scattering four hits and one run, earned, with three strikeouts and no walks.

In the second game, Richard Bland scored 13 runs on 18 hits, including nine runs in the third inning, one run in the fifth and three more runs in the sixth inning.  In the third, Dabney (2-4, 4 RBIs) hit a two-run home run that also plated freshman Kara Morris/Kents Store (3-4) and was promptly followed by another solo blast by Justice (3-4, 3 RBIs), her third homer on the day.  Fritz (2-4, RBI), Daniel (2-3, RBI) and Ringer (2-4, RBI) each added run-scoring singles, Dabney added a sacrifice fly and Justice contributed a two-run single.  Also crossing the plate during the at-bat were Lanier (1-3), Whitley (1-3), Fritz, Daniel, Ringer and Morris (again). 

In the fifth, Dabney added a run-scoring single that scored Daniel, and in the sixth, pinch-hitter Presson (1-1, 2 RBIs) hit a two-run home run that also scored Lanier, and Johnson (1-1) crossed the plate courtesy of a passed ball and error after slamming a double, also pinch-hitting.

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

Buffington (4-7) started in the circle and tossed the complete-game 6.0 innings, scattering five hits and four runs, all unearned, with three strikeouts and no walks.

Richard Bland will welcome Region 10 opponent Pitt (N.C.) Community College on Saturday, April 1 for a doubleheader beginning at 12 p.m. at the RBC Softball Field.