Richard Bland Falls To No. 14 Florence-Darlington Tech (S.C.) 4-3, 9-4

SOUTH PRINCE GEORGE, Va. -- Sophomore Brooklynn Bilyard/Culpeper had a triple and two RBIs in the opener, while freshman Katie Haney/Burkeville had a triple and one RBI in the nightcap, but Richard Bland dropped a Region 10 softball doubleheader to nationally-ranked No. 14 Florence-Darlington Tech (S.C.) on Friday at the Statesman Softball Field.  Freshman Megan Vincent/Boykins took the pitching setback in the 4-3 first game for the host Statesmen (10-5, 1-5), while classmate Kayla Shaffer/Richmond took the pitching setback in the 9-4 second game against the visiting Stingers (16-4, 8-0), who have won 16-straight games.

In game one, Richard Bland had three runs on eight hits … scoring two runs in the fifth inning and one run in the seventh.  The Statesmen fell behind 4-0 through four innings before falling one run short, ending a nine-game winning streak going into the opener.

Brooklynn Bilyard led Richard Bland, going 1-4 with the triple and two RBIs, while sophomore Kay'Lee Justice/Suffolk was 2-4 with one RBI. 

Vincent (2-2) started in the circle and pitched 7.0 innings, scattering seven hits and four runs, all unearned, with six strikeouts and no walks.

In game two, Richard Bland had four runs on eight hits … scoring one run in the first inning, one run in the third and two runs in the fifth.  The Statesmen led 2-1 through three innings, fell behind 4-2 in the fifth, but rallied to tie it at 4-4 through five innings, before allowing five runs in the decisive seventh frame.

Haney led Richard Bland, going 2-3 with the triple and one RBI, while freshman Taylor Bilyard/Culpeper was 2-4 with two doubles, one run and one RBI.  Brooklynn Bilyard was 2-3 with one run, one walk and one stolen base, and freshman Mary Simms/Orange was 1-3 with one run, one RBI and one walk.

Brooklynn Bilyard started in the circle and pitched the first 4.1 innings, allowing one hit and four runs, all earned, with four strikeouts and nine walks.  Shaffer (2-1) tossed the final 2.2 innings, yielding six hits and five runs, all earned, with no strikeouts and two walks.

Richard Bland will travel to play at NJCAA Division I opponent Spartanburg Methodist (S.C.) on Sunday, March 18, at 12 p.m. in Spartanburg, South Carolina.