Richard Bland Splits Against Southeastern-Whiteville (N.C.) 9-11, 17-12

SOUTH PRINCE GEORGE, Va. -- Freshmen Taylor Daniel/Alberta, Kara Morris/Kents Store and Kennedy Presson/Wakefield each had three hits in game two, while Presson, sophomores Tabby Dabney/Mechanicsville and Katelyn King/Chesterfield, along with freshman Kamryn Lanier/Chester, each had two hits in game one, leading Richard Bland College to a Region 10 softball doubleheader split against Southeastern Community College-Whiteville (N.C.) on Friday at the RBC Softball Field.  Sophomore Katelyn Cobb/Newsoms earned the pitching victory in the 17-12 nightcap for the host Statesmen (6-9, 4-2), while classmate Shannon Buffington/Virginia Beach took the pitching setback in the 11-9 opener against the visiting Rams (9-6-1, 3-5).

In the nightcap, Richard Bland scored 17 runs on 19 hits, including five runs in the first inning, four in the fourth, one in the fifth and seven in the decisive sixth inning.  In the first, Daniel (3-6, 2 RBIs) had a run-scoring double to score sophomore August Ringer/Yale (2-6, RBI), while freshman Kay'Lee Justice/Suffolk (2-4, 3 RBIs) and Presson (3-4, 2 RBIs) each contributed two-run singles … scoring King (2-3, RBI) and Daniel, as well as Justice and Dabney (2-5).

In the fourth, King, Justice and Morris each had run-scoring singles, while Dabney scored on a wild pitch.  Daniel, freshman Brooklynn Bilyard/Culpeper (2-4, RBI) and Justice crossed the plate during the at-bat.  In the fifth, King scored courtesy of a wild pitch.

In the sixth, Bilyard and Ringer each provided RBI singles to plate Daniel and Presson, respectively, while Lanier (0-3), Ringer, Morris (3-4, RBI), King and Bilyard each crossed the plate with unearned runs via throwing errors.

Daniel, Morris and Presson each collected three hits, while Bilyard, Dabney, Justice, King and Ringer each added two hits in the second game for Richard Bland. 

Cobb (1-1) gained the pitching win in relief with the final 3.0 innings, allowing just two hits and one run, earned, with two strikeouts and one walk.  Bilyard started in the circle and tossed the first 4.0 innings, allowing 10 hits and 11 runs, 10 earned, with three strikeouts and three walks.

In the opener, Richard Bland scored nine runs on 11 hits, including two runs in the second inning, one run in the fourth, three runs in the fifth, two runs in the sixth and one run in the seventh inning.  In the second, Presson (2-3, RBI) and Lanier (2-4, 4 RBIs) each had run-scoring singles to score Bilyard (1-5) and Justice (0-2).  In the fourth, Presson crossed the plate unearned via a fielding error.

In the fifth, Lanier provided a three-run double that plated freshman pinch runner Ashley Fritz/North Chesterfield (0-0), Bilyard and Justice.  In the sixth, King (2-5, 2 RBIs) blasted a two-run home run that also scored Daniel (1-5).  In the seventh, Morris (1-3) scored an unearned run courtesy of another fielding error.

Dabney (2-4), King, Lanier and Presson each had two hits in the first game for Richard Bland. 

Buffington (2-5) took the pitching setback in relief with just one-third of an inning, yielding four hits and five runs, three earned, with no strikeouts and no walks.  Dabney started in the circle and tossed the first 4.0 innings, scattering six hits and three runs, all earned, with four strikeouts and one walk.  Cobb pitched the final 2.0 innings, allowing seven hits and three runs, all earned, with one strikeout and one walk.

Richard Bland remains at home to welcome nearby Southside Virginia Community College next Wednesday, March 15 for a pair of games starting at 5 p.m.