Holmes Leads Statesmen to Victory in Two Non-Conference Baseball Games

SOUTH PRINCE GEORGE, VA – The Richard Bland College Baseball team traveled to Hampden-Sydney College Tuesday afternoon and hosted Camp Community College Wednesday afternoon. After completion of the games, the Statesmen moved to 8-4 overall, 2-3 in conference play after taking down the Tigers 14-10 and the Hurricanes 10-8.

In the game Tuesday afternoon, Myles Holmes drove in six runs to lead the Statesmen past the Tigers. Holmes hit a home run to left field in the eighth scoring three, singled in the fifth scoring two, and sacrifice bunted in the sixth scoring one. Richard Bland collected 15 hits and Hampden-Sydney had eight in the high-scoring affair. Hampden-Sydney got on the board first in the bottom of the second inning after a single and a fielder's choice. Richard Bland made the score 4-3 in the top of the third after Carson Herod tripled, scoring two runs, Seth Truesdale drew a walk, scoring one run, and Arthur Garnett doubled, scoring one run. The Tigers scored one run in the bottom of the third to tie the game at four. A sacrifice fly gave the Tigers the lead in the fourth. Richard Bland captured the lead, 7-5, in the top of the fifth when Holmes singled, scoring two runs, and a passed ball scored one run. The Tigers added five runs in the bottom of the seventh, and the Statesmen added three in the top of the eighth. Michael Keyes earned the win for the Statesmen. The right-handed pitcher surrendered three hits and two runs over two innings, striking out one and walking none. Adam Tatham stepped on the hill first for Richard Bland. The righty gave up three hits and three runs over two innings, striking out three and walking five. Charlie Hogan, Ryan Paul, Will Holdren, and Keller Vogler each threw shutout innings in relief.

In the game Wednesday afternoon, there were runs aplenty as Richard Bland topped Camp Community College 10-8. Richard Bland collected nine hits, while the Hurricanes had eight. The Hurricanes got on the board in the top of the first inning after a ground out and a single each scored one run. Richard Bland flipped the game on its head in the bottom of the second, scoring six runs on three hits to take the lead, 6-2. The biggest blow in the inning was an error that drove in one. Keegan Mahoney earned the win for Richard Bland. The left-handed pitcher surrendered four hits and five runs over three innings, striking out two and walking four. Luke Sweeney collected the save. Connor Smith pitched one and one-third innings of no-run ball for the Statesmen in relief. The hurler gave up zero hits, striking out none and walking three. Richard Bland collected nine hits in the game. Myles Holmes set the tone at the top of the lineup, leading Richard Bland with three hits in five at bats. Seth Truesdale and Macho Santiago were a one-two punch in the lineup, as each drove in two runs for the Statesmen. Richard Bland had strong eyes at the plate, accumulating eight walks in the game.

The Richard Bland College Baseball team next hosts Southeastern Community College-Whiteville on Saturday, March 1^st and Sunday, March 2^nd. Games one and two of the series will take place Saturday in a 2pm doubleheader, with game three on Sunday at 1pm.