Richard Bland Splits At Surry (N.C.) 6-7, 7-1

SOUTH PRINCE GEORGE, Va. -- Sophomore Katelyn King/Chesterfield and freshman Brooklynn Bilyard/Culpeper each hit home runs in game two, while Bilyard and freshmen Taylor Daniel/Alberta each had three hits in game one, including another home run by Bilyard, leading Richard Bland College to a Region 10 softball doubleheader split on the road at Surry (N.C.) Community College on Saturday in Dobson, North Carolina.  Bilyard also earned the pitching victory in the 7-1 nightcap for the visiting Statesmen (7-10, 5-3), while sophomore Tabby Dabney/Mechanicsville took the pitching setback in the 7-6 opener against the host Knights (9-11, 2-4).  

In the nightcap, Richard Bland scored seven runs on eight hits, including one run in the second inning, along with two runs each in the fourth, fifth and seventh innings.  In the second, Bilyard (1-3, RBI) hit her second home run on the day, a solo shot with one out.  In the fourth, sophomore Morgan Whitley/Franklin (1-2, 2 RBIs) provided a clutch two-out, two-run single that scored Dabney (2-3, RBI) and Bilyard. 

In the fifth, Dabney added a run-scoring single to plate sophomore August Ringer/Yale (1-4), and freshman Kara Morris/Kents Store (1-2) crossed the plate courtesy of an error.  In the seventh, King (1-4, 2 RBIs) hit a two-run home run that also scored Morris.

Dabney collected two hits in the second game for Richard Bland.

Bilyard (2-1) started in the circle and tossed the complete game triumph over 7.0 innings, scattering eight hits and one run, unearned, with four strikeouts and one walk.

In the opener, Richard Bland scored six runs on 16 hits, including two runs each in the third and fourth innings, and one run each in the fifth and sixth innings.  In the third, Daniel (3-4, RBI) and Bilyard (3-4, 3 RBIs) each had run-scoring singles to score Ringer (2-4) and King (2-3, 2 RBIs).  In the fourth, King added a two-run double to plate Whitley (2-3) and Ringer.

In the fifth, Bilyard led off the at-bat with a solo home run, while in the sixth, Bilyard contributed an RBI single to score King.

Bilyard and Daniel each had three hits, while Dabney (2-4), King, Ringer and Whitley each added two hits in the first game for Richard Bland.

Dabney (2-3) took the pitching setback in relief with the final 2.0 innings, yielding four hits and two runs, one earned, with no strikeouts and no walks.  Sophomore Shannon Buffington/Virginia Beach started in the circle and tossed the first 4.0 innings, allowing nine hits and five runs, all earned, with one strikeout and two walks.

Richard Bland returns home to welcome NJCAA Division I Louisburg (N.C.) College next Wednesday, March 22 for a doubleheader beginning at 5 p.m. at the RBC Softball Field.