Baseball Opens Conference Play with Split

SOUTH PRINCE GEORGE, VA – The Richard Bland College baseball team moves to 1-2 overall, 1-1 in conference play after hosting Lenoir Community College for games one and two of the three game series. Due to weather, game three is postponed to a later date.

In game one, Richard Bland stole the lead late and defeated Lenior Community College 10-2 on Saturday. Richard Bland was down 1-2 in the bottom of the fifth inning when Michael Caliz homered on a 0-1 count, scoring two runs. Caliz led Richard Bland to victory by driving in four runs while going 2-for-3 at the plate. The Statesmen knotted the game up at one in the bottom of the third inning, when Caliz doubled on a 2-0 count, scoring one run. Richard Bland put up five runs in the sixth inning. Caliz and Landon Scott each had RBIs in the big inning. Matthew Boyd started the game for Richard Bland. Boyd lasted four innings, allowing four hits and one run while striking out two. Reece Hamilton helped pitch the Statesmen to victory. Hamilton lasted two innings, allowing three hits and one run while walking zero. Gavin Riley threw one inning in relief out of the bullpen. Richard Bland tallied 11 hits including one home run by Caliz and one four bagger by Matt Stevenson. Stevenson, Caliz, Scott, and Ashur Caraher each managed multiple hits for Richard Bland.

In game two, Richard Bland lost the lead late in an 7-8 defeat. The game was tied at seven with the Lancers batting in the top of the eighth. The Lancers drew a walk, which scored the winning run. Richard Bland fired up the offense in the first inning, when Landon Scott singled on a 3-1 count, scoring two runs. The Statesmen put up five runs in the second inning on a rally led by a Myles Frazier walk, a single by Matt Stevenson, and a double by Michael Caliz. Lenoir knotted the game up at seven in the top of the seventh inning. Matthew Caldwell took the loss for Richard Bland. The righty allowed two hits and three runs over one inning, striking out three. Brandon Arrowood went 3.1 innings allowing two hits, three runs, five walks, striking out four. Richard Bland collected 10 hits in the high scoring affair. Kaleikaumaka Grebin, Frazier, Caliz, and Ashur Caraher each racked up multiple hits for Richard Bland.

The Richard Bland College baseball team next hosts Montgomery College (MD) on Wednesday, February 15^th at Shepherd Stadium in Colonial Heights, VA. First pitch is set for 2pm.