Richard Bland Falls At Florence-Darlington (S.C.) 7-2, 12-3 (5)

FLORENCE, S.C. – Sophomore Kara Morris/Kents Store and freshman Taylor Bilyard/Culpeper each had two hits, while sophomore Kay'Lee Justice/Suffolk hit a home run, but Richard Bland College dropped a Region 10 softball doubleheader at Florence-Darlington (S.C.) on Saturday afternoon in Florence, South Carolina.  Freshman Joana Holland/Manassas took the pitching setback in the 7-2 opener for the visiting Statesmen (1-3, 1-3), while sophomore Brooklynn Bilyard/Culpeper had the decision in the 12-3 nightcap against the host Stingers (12-4, 6-0).

In game one, Richard Bland scored two runs on five hits … scoring both runs in the fifth inning that provided for the final margin as Florence-Darlington had scored five runs in the first inning and two runs in the third.

Freshmen Katie Haney/Burkeville and Mary Simms/Orange were each 1-3 with a run scored, while classmate Kayla Hand/Chesapeake was 1-3 with an RBI.  Taylor Bilyard and sophomore Ashley Fritz/Chesterfield were each 1-3, as well.

Holland started in the circle and pitched the first 3.0 innings, allowing seven hits and seven runs, five earned, with three strikeouts and two walks.  Freshman Megan Vincent/Boykins tossed the final 3.0 scoreless innings, yielding no hits with two strikeouts and one walk.

In game two, Richard Bland scored three runs on five hits in the run-rule shortened five-inning contest … scoring one run in the second inning and two runs in the fourth.  Florence-Darlington had two big innings with five runs scored in each of the first and fourth innings, and one run each in the second and fifth.

Morris was 2-2 with two doubles and a walk, while Justice was 2-3 with a solo home run, her first and the team's first homer this season.  Taylor Bilyard was 1-3 with a double, while freshman Caitlin Stout/Dinwiddie was 1-3 with a run scored.

Brooklynn Bilyard started in the circle and pitched the first 3.1 innings, scattering five hits and seven runs, all earned, with four strikeouts and eight walks.  Freshman Kayla Shaffer/Richmond tossed the final two-thirds of an inning, yielding four hits and one run, unearned, with one strikeout and no walks.

Richard Bland is scheduled to host NJCAA Division I Harford (Md.) for a doubleheader on Monday, February 26, beginning at 2 p.m. at the Statesman Softball Field.  Weather and/or wet field conditions could cause a date and/or location change, once-again … updates will be posted, accordingly.