Statesmen Steal One From Rams in Conference Series

SOUTH PRINCE GEORGE, VA – The Richard Bland College Baseball team hosted Southeastern Community College-Whiteville over the weekend for a three-game conference series at Petersburg Sports Complex. After completion of the games, the Statesmen moved to 9-6 overall, 3-5 in conference play after dropping game one 12-14 and game three 5-7, and winning game two, 5-2.

In game one, Richard Bland made a run but fell short against the Rams of Southeastern Community College-Whiteville. Richard Bland's effort to come back from down eight runs in the fifth inning came up just short, as they fell 12-14. Richard Bland closed the gap by scoring a solo home run, a single, a walking, a hit by pitch, a walk, an error, a sacrifice fly, and a single. Richard Bland collected 13 hits and the Rams had 15 in the high-scoring affair. The Rams opened the scoring in the top of the first thanks to two singles. Richard Bland tied the game in the bottom of the third thanks to a solo home run to right field by Connor Powell, and a double by Jordan Ramsey. The Rams broke up the tie in the top of the fourth, and scored five more runs in the top of the fifth. Richard Bland scored six runs on four hits in the bottom of the fifth inning. Seth Truesdale hit a solo home run to left field, Michael Duncan singled, scoring two runs, Powell drew a walk, scoring one run, Truesdale was struck by a pitch, driving in a run, and Arthur Garnett drew a walk, scoring one run. In the bottom of the sixth the Statesmen went back into the lead after a Rams error, Macho Santiago hit a sacrifice fly, and Myles Holmes singled to right field, each scoring one run. Michael Keyes took the loss for Richard Bland. The reliever went one and two-thirds innings, surrendering three runs on three hits, striking out two and walking one. Everett Stevens opened the game for the Statesmen. The right-handed pitcher surrendered five hits and three runs over three innings, striking out two and walking three. Duncan led Richard Bland with three runs batted in from the number nine spot in the lineup, going 1-for-4.

In game 2, the Rams got on the board in the first inning after a single scored one run. The Statesmen flipped the game on its head in the bottom of the sixth, scoring five runs on four hits to take the lead 5-2. The biggest blow in the inning was a single by Sam Gupta that drove in one. Carson Herod, Michael Duncan, Miguel Martin, and Gupta each drove in one run for Richard Bland. Gupta led the Statesmen with two hits in three at bats. Charlie Hogan earned the win for Richard Bland. The pitcher allowed zero hits and zero runs over two innings, striking out two and walking one. Jack Rucker began the game for Richard Bland. The left-handed pitcher allowed five hits and two runs over five innings, striking out seven and walking two.

In game 3, Richard Bland lost despite out hitting the Rams. Henry Stewart and Arthur Garnett each collected two hits in the game. A double by Stewart put Richard Bland on the board in the bottom of the first. Michael Duncan hit a solo home run to left field in the bottom of the third for the Statesmen. Richard Bland piled up nine hits in the game. Stewart, Garnett, Herod, and Duncan each drove in one run for Richard Bland. Ryan Paul took the loss for the Statesmen. The hurler went two-thirds of an inning, giving up four runs on one hit, striking out none and walking three. Jackson Hulcher began the game for the Statesmen. The right-handed pitcher surrendered one hit and zero runs over five innings, striking out seven and walking one.

The Richard Bland College Baseball team next travels to Camp Community College on Wednesday, March 5^th for a 2pm game.