Richard Bland Sweeps Doubleheader At Patrick Henry 18-2 (5), 7-2

MARTINSVILLE, Va. -- Sophomores Katelyn King/Chesterfield and Tabby Dabney/Mechanicsville each had three hits in game one, while freshman Kay'Lee Justice/Suffolk had four hits in game two, to lead Richard Bland College to a Region 10 softball doubleheader sweep at Patrick Henry Community College on Friday in Martinsville.  Sophomore Shannon Buffington/Virginia Beach earned the pitching victory in the 18-2 opener for the visiting Statesmen (9-12, 7-3), while classmate Tabby Dabney/Mechanicsville took the pitching win in the 7-2 nightcap against the host Patriots (1-9, 1-5).

In the first game, Richard Bland scored 18 runs on 18 hits, plating four runs in the first inning, five runs each in the second and third innings, one run in the fourth and three more runs in the fifth.  In the first, King (3-5, 4 RBIs) had an RBI triple, freshman Kennedy Presson/Wakefield (1-4, 2 RBIs) and sophomore Morgan Whitley/Franklin (2-2, RBI) each had run-scoring singles and freshman Kara Morris/Kents Store (2-3) scored on an error after reaching on a two-out double to start the scoring during the first at-bat.

In the second, King, Justice (2-3, 2 RBIs) and freshman Ashley Fritz/North Chesterfield (2-4, RBI) each had RBI singles, while Presson (1-4, 2 RBIs) added a sacrifice fly.  In the third, King had a run-scoring single and Justice added an RBI double, while Presson and sophomore Sierra Johnson/Capron (0-2, RBI) each reached on errors resulting in runners crossing the plate.  In the fourth, Dabney (3-4, 2 RBIs) provided a run-scoring double, while in the fifth, sophomore August Ringer/Yale (2-6, RBI) and Dabney had RBI singles, along with Morris reaching on an error that allowed another run to cross the plate.

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

Buffington (3-6) started in the circle and tossed the complete-game 5.0 innings, scattering seven hits and two runs, both earned, with three strikeouts and one walk.

In the second game, Richard Bland scored seven runs on 13 hits, including three runs in the first inning and four more runs in the fifth inning.  In the first, Morris (2-3, RBI) had an RBI single, Justice (4-4, 2 RBIs) added a run-scoring double and King (0-3, RBI) plated a run on a ground ball out.

In the fifth, Dabney (1-4, RBI) had an RBI double, Justice added a run-scoring triple and freshman Kamryn Lanier/Chester (2-3, RBI) had an RBI single.  Ringer (2-4) also scored courtesy of an illegal pitch.

Justice had four hits in game two for Richard Bland, while Lanier, Morris and Ringer each had two hits in the nightcap.

Dabney (3-3) started in the circle and tossed the complete-game 7.0 innings, yielding 10 hits and two runs, both earned, with 10 strikeouts and one walk.

Richard Bland will remain on the road to play at NCAA Division III Christopher Newport University next Tuesday, March 28 for a doubleheader beginning at 4 p.m. in Newport News.  CNU was ranked 11^th in the most recent NFCA Division III Top 25 Poll.