Statesmen Earn Three-Game Sweep Over Trojans, Move to 8-1 in Conference Play

SOUTH PRINCE GEORGE, VA – The Richard Bland College Softball team traveled to Fayetteville Technical Community College Friday, March 21^st and Saturday, March 22^nd for a three-game conference series with the Trojans. After completion of the games, the Statesmen moved to 13-9 overall, and 8-1 in conference play after defeating the Trojans 18-3, 10-1, and 15-10.

In game one, Ava Balli drove in four runs on two hits to lead Richard Bland past Fayetteville Tech 18-3 Friday afternoon. Balli singled in the fourth inning, scoring two runs, and tripled in the fifth inning, scoring two. Sydney Thompson, Taylor Green, and Balli at the bottom of the lineup, combined for four of the team's eight hits in the victory. Richard Bland scored six runs on five hits in the top of the fourth inning. Green singled, scoring one run, Balli singled, scoring three runs, Claudia Minetree tripled, scoring one run, and Ashley Beamon singled, scoring one run. Grace Urban earned the win for Richard Bland. The reliever surrendered two hits and zero runs over two innings, striking out four and walking none.

In game two, Richard Bland took an early lead and never looked back in the 10-1 win over the Trojans. A home run to left field by Ashley Beamon put Richard Bland on the board in the top of the first. Richard Bland extended their early lead with three runs in the top of the second thanks to RBI singles by Claudia Minetree and McKynzi Dawson. A single by Shekinah Soto extended the lead to 6-1 in the top of the third inning. Beamon led the Statesmen with three runs batted in. The shortstop went 2-for-2 in the game. Beamon, Minetree, and Taylor Green each collected two hits for Richard Bland. Patricia Lett led with three walks. Ava Balli earned the win for Richard Bland. The righty surrendered three hits and one run over four and two thirds innings, striking out five and walking one.

In game three, Richard Bland defeated Fayetteville Tech 15-10 in a back-and-forth affair in Saturday's nightcap. Ashley Beamon collected three hits in five at bats in the win. Beamon doubled in the fifth inning, striped in the seventh inning, and singled in the eighth inning. Fayetteville Tech got on the board first in the bottom of the first inning after a single and a fielder's choice scored one run each. Richard Bland took the lead in the top of the second inning after Sydney Thompson walked, Shekinah Soto walked, Claudia Minetree walked, and McKynzi Dawson grounded out, each scoring one run. The Trojans jumped into the lead in the bottom of the second when a double scored two, and a passed ball scored one. Richard Bland captured the lead, 6-5, in the top of the fourth after Lett and Thompson walked, each scoring one run. The Trojans captured the lead 8-9 in the bottom of the sixth, but Taylor Green singled in the top of the seventh, to tie the game, 9-9. The Statesmen and Trojans scored one run each in the nineth inning, tying the game once more, 10-10. Richard Bland flipped the game on its head in the top of the tenth, scoring five runs on four hits to take the lead, 15-10, and hold on for the win. Dawson stepped in the circle first for the Statesmen. The righty surrendered four hits and five runs over one inning, striking out none and walking one. Urban earned the win for Richard Bland. The pitcher surrendered four hits and one run over four innings, striking out six and walking none. Taylor Green pitched five innings in relief for Richard Bland. The hurler surrendered three hits and four runs while striking out four and walking one.

The Richard Bland College Softball team next hosts Bryant & Stratton College (VA) on Wednesday, March 26^th in a 4pm conference doubleheader.