Baseball Takes One from Bulldogs in Conference Series

SOUTH PRINCE GEORGE, VA – The Richard Bland College Baseball team traveled to Bryant & Stratton College (VA) Wednesday afternoon, and hosted Pitt Community College Saturday and Sunday for the three-game conference series at Petersburg Sports Complex. After completion of the games, the Statesmen moved to 17-18 overall, 8-14 in conference play after falling to the Bobcats 11-12, defeating the Bulldogs 9-8 and dropping games two and three 6-10 and 9-19.

In the mid-week game against the Bobcats, Richard Bland could not hold onto the lead as they fell 11-12 despite leading by seven at one point. Richard Bland collected 15 hits and the Bobcats had eight in the high-scoring affair. Richard Bland got on the board in the first inning after Jordan Ramsey singled, scoring one run. Six more Richard Bland runs crossed the plate in the second inning to extend the lead to 8-0. Miguel Martin laid down a sacrifice bunt, scoring one run, Carson Herod doubled, scoring one run, Myles Holmes homered to left field, scoring two runs, and Keegan Mahoney singled, scoring two runs. The Bobcats scored two runs in the bottom of the second on a home run to left field. The Bobcats flipped the game on its head in the bottom of the eighth, scoring six runs on three hits to take the lead, 11-12. Mahoney led things off on the mound for Richard Bland. The southpaw surrendered two hits and two runs over two innings, striking out one and walking none. Charlie Hogan pitched three innings in relief for Richard Bland. The hurler surrendered two hits and three runs while striking out one and walking two.

In game one against the Bulldogs, Richard Bland earned a walk-off win over Pitt Community College. It came down to the wire in the opener Saturday, as Richard Bland grabbed the victory in walk-off fashion, 9-8. The game was tied at eight in the bottom of the ninth when Carson Herod was struck by a pitcher, driving in the game-winning run. Richard Bland collected nine hits and the Bulldogs 10. The Bulldogs got on the board in the first inning after a single, scored one run. Richard Bland jumped into the lead in the bottom of the first when Jordan Ramsey drew a walk, scoring one run, and an error scored two runs. Herod hit a solo home run to right field in the bottom of the fourth for the Statesmen. Pitt took the lead in the top of the fifth after a single and home run each scored two runs. Richard Bland tied the game in the bottom of the sixth thanks to an error and a ground out by Keegan Mahoney. The Bulldogs took the lead in the top of the seventh, 6-7. Macho Santiago homered to center field, which helped Richard Bland tie the game at eight in the bottom of the eighth. David Smith earned the win for the Statesmen. The reliever gave up one hit and one run over three innings, striking out three and walking three. Nate Riggs began the game for Richard Bland. The starting pitcher allowed four hits and one run over four innings, striking out three and walking three. Brady Page, Luke Sweeney, and Everett Stevens each appeared in relief for the Statesmen.

In game two against the Bulldogs, Richard Bland dropped the game 6-10. A single put the Bulldogs on the board first in the top of the first. A home run to left field by Myles Holmes gave Richard Bland the lead, 2-1 in the bottom of the inning. A sacrifice fly by Macho Santiago extended the lead to 3-1 in the bottom of the third. Pitt made the score 3-5 in the top of the fourth after a walk scored one run, a singled scored two runs, and a wild pitch scored one run. Miguel Martin hit a solo home run to left field in the bottom of the fifth for the Statesmen. Richard Bland made the score 8-6 in the bottom of the sixth inning when Keegan Mahoney hit a solo home run to center field, and Michael Duncan hit a solo home run to left field. Holmes led Richard Bland with two runs batted in. Jackson Hulcher took the loss for the Statesmen. The right-handed pitcher went four innings, giving up five runs on seven hits, striking out three and walking three.

In game three it was a strong showing from both offenses. Both teams put up a bunch of runs, but Richard Bland fell 9-19 on Sunday. Pitt collected 18 hits while Richard Bland had 10. Keegan Mahoney collected three hits in three at bats in the loss. Mahoney singled in the first inning, hit a home run to right field in the second inning, and doubled in the fourth. Macho Santiago hit a solo home run to left in the bottom of the first for Richard Bland. The Statesmen scored six runs on five hits in the bottom of the second. Carson Herod homered to right, scoring three runs, Holmes hit a solo home run to right, and Mahoney homered to right, scoring two runs. The Statesmen scored one run in the bottom of the third on a solo home run to center field by Jordan Ramsey. Ryan Paul took the loss for Richard Bland. The starting pitcher went one inning, allowing six runs on five hits, striking out none and walking one.

The Richard Bland College Baseball team next hosts Bryant & Stratton College (VA) for a midweek conference game with the Bobcats on Wednesday, April 9th. First pitch is scheduled for 3:30pm.