Richard Bland Sweeps Southeastern-Whiteville (N.C.) 7-4, 4-2

WHITEVILLE, N.C. -- Sophomore Tabby Dabney/Mechanicsville hit two home runs in game one, and freshman Brooklynn Bilyard/Culpeper hit one home run in the first game, while sophomores August Ringer/Yale and Morgan Whitley/Franklin each had two hits in game two, leading Richard Bland College to a Region 10 softball doubleheader sweep at Southeastern Community College-Whiteville on Friday in North Carolina.  Sophomore Shannon Buffington/Virginia Beach earned a complete game pitching victory in the 7-4 opener for the visiting Statesmen (2-5, 2-0), while Dabney gained the complete game pitching win in the 4-2 nightcap against the host Rams (4-4, 1-3). 

In the opener, Richard Bland scored two runs in the top of the first inning via a two-out, two-run double to left field by Bilyard (2-3, 3 RBIs) that scored both freshman Taylor Daniel/Alberta (2-4) and Dabney (2-3, 4 RBIs).  Daniel had reached on a one-out single, before Dabney was hit by a pitch with two outs.  The Statesmen added three runs in the top of the third to lead 5-1, getting back-to-back home runs from Dabney and Bilyard, respectively.  Dabney's blast was a two-run shot to left field that also scored sophomore Katelyn King/Chesterfield (2-4), who had singled with one out.  Bilyard hit an inside-the-park homer to right field.  Richard Bland added two insurance runs in the top of the fifth to lead 7-3, as Dabney hit another two-run homer to left field that once-again scored King, who had singled again, as well.

Bilyard, Dabney, Daniel and King each collected two hits in the first game for Richard Bland.

Buffington (1-2) started in the circle and took the pitching win with the complete 7.0 innings, scattering nine hits and four runs, all earned, with four strikeouts and one walk.

In the nightcap, Richard Bland scored a run in the top of the second inning when Bilyard (1-4, RBI) reached on an error and later crossed the plate as freshman Ashley Fritz/North Chesterfield (1-3, RBI) reached on a fielder's choice.  The Statesmen made it 2-0 in the third when Bilyard's two-out RBI double to center field scored Daniel (1-4), who had singled to open the frame.  The advantage increased to 4-0 with two more runs in the fourth, with the visitors getting a run-scoring single from Ringer (2-4, RBI) and a sacrifice fly to right field from King (1-3, RBI).  Whitley (2-4), who had singled, and freshman Kamryn Lanier/Chester (0-1), who had walked, each scored during the at-bat.

Dabney (1-1) started in the circle and took the pitching triumph with the complete 7.0 innings, allowing just five hits and two runs, one earned, with four strikeouts and no walks. 

Richard Bland will remain on the road to play at Region 10 opponent Florence-Darlington (S.C.) Technical College on Saturday, February 18 at 12 p.m. in Florence, South Carolina.