Softball Earns Split on Opening Day

SOUTH PRINCE GEORGE, VA – The Richard Bland College Softball team opened the season on the road Saturday afternoon as they traveled to Surry Community College for a non-conference Region 10 matchup. After completion of the doubleheader, the Statesmen moved to 1-1 overall after falling 12-13 in eight innings in game one, and winning 10-4 in the night cap.

In game one, a walk-off left Richard Bland on the wrong end of a 12-13 defeat to the Knights. The game was tied at 12 in the bottom of the eighth inning when the Knights singled, scoring the game-winning run. Richard Bland got on the board in the first inning after Ashley Beamon scored after tagging up. Surry put one of their own across in the bottom of the first to tie the game. Richard bland took the lead in the top of the second inning after McKynzi Dawson singled up the middle, and Brayanna Holland doubled to the left side of the infield, each scoring one run. Surry fought back, taking the 3-5 lead in the bottom of the third. In the top of the fourth, Beamon homered to left field on an 0-2 count, which helped the Statesmen tie the game at five. The Knights regained the lead 5-9 in the bottom of the fourth, however, the Statesmen made the score 8-9 in the top of the fifth when Patricia Lett hit a solo home run to center field, and Grace Urban singled, scoring two runs. Richard Bland took the 11-9 lead in the top of the sixth thanks to doubles by Taylor Green and Samantha Barbe. Claudia Minetree continued to momentum in the top of the eighth singling and scoring one run to give the Statesmen the 12-11 lead, but Surry captured the win in the bottom of the eighth. Richard Bland collected 15 hits in the high-scoring affair. Holland and Beamon were a force together in the lineup, as they each collected three hits. Beamon, Urban, Lett, and Barbe each drove in two runs for the Statesmen. Dawson stepped in the circle first for Richard Bland. Dawson allowed five hits and five runs over two and one-third innings, striking out three and walking two.

In game two, Taylor Green led the Statesmen past the Knights in a 10-4 victory. Taylor Green struck out 10 batters as the hurler. Green allowed seven hits and four runs over seven innings while walking three. Richard Bland got on the board in the top of the first inning after Grace Urban doubled, scoring two runs, and Green singled, scoring one run. Surry tied the game in the bottom of the second. The Statesmen scored one run in the second, two in the fourth, three in the sixth, and one in the seventh, to hang on for the win. Green went 2-for-4 at the plate and led the team with three runs batted in. Brayanna Holland led the Statesmen with three hits in five at bats. Richard Bland was sure-handed and did not commit a single error.

The Richard Bland College Softball team next hosts Elizabeth City State University in their home opener on Saturday, February 8^th. The doubleheader is set to begin at 2pm.