HOME & AWAY SOFTBALL ON TAP THIS WEEKEND FOR STATESMEN

PETERSBURG, Va., (March 15, 2016) – The Richard Bland College softball team will play two non-conference doubleheaders this weekend, as the Statesmen host Herkimer Community College on Saturday and travel to Harford Community College on Saturday. Following these games Richard Bland will play all but the last two games of the season against Region X Conference opponents.

The Statesmen split last weekends games, defeating Southeastern Community College-Whiteville in doubleheader play with two seventh-inning comebacks, while dropping a twin bill to NJCAA Division I Louisburg College. 

On Saturday, Richard Bland will host Division III Herkimer (N.Y.) College, a storied program that was a national finalist in 2014 and 2015 and captured the national championship in 2013. Last season, the Generals finished 43-2. Weather may play a factor in Sunday's contests at Harford as weather in Bel Air, Maryland calls for a mixture of rain and snow showers all day and a high of 38 degrees.

GAME DETAILS

Opponent: Herkimer Community College (8-2, with three games before RBC game) vs. Richard Bland (7-13)

Date: Saturday, March 19 at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.

Richard Bland Softball Home Page 

Site: Petersburg, Va.

Opponent: Richard Bland (7-13) at Harford Community College (1-11, with one game prior to RBC game)

Date: Sunday, March 20 at Noon and 2 p.m.

Richard Bland Softball Home Page 

Site: Bel Air, MD | Harford Sports Complex

LAST OUTING VS. HERKIMER:  The teams did not play in the 2015 season … RBC and Herkimer last met on Mar. 22, 2014 in Petersburg, with the Statesmen winning two tightly-played games, 3-0, 3-1.

LAST OUTING VS. HARFORD: Weather cancelled last years's scheduled doubleheader … The teams last met on Mar. 9, 2014 in Petersburg, with the Statesmen rolling to a pair of five-inning wins, 13-1m 12-1.

STUDENT ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Sophomore Hannah Barnes is coming off a four-game stretch against Southeastern C.C.-Whiteville and Louisburg College in which she went 7-for-14, a nifty .500 average … In those four games, she had three doubles, a triple, two RBI and scored five runs … From the leadoff position she opened up the Southeastern game with a triple and in the second game against Division I powerhouse Louisburg College, went 3-for-4.

CATEGORY LEADER: Barnes currently leads the Statesmen in batting average (.379), hits (25), doubles (5), on base percentage (.446) and slugging percentage (.485). 

RBI LEADER: Sophomore Whitney Clements leads the team in RBI with 11.

KEEN EYE: Not only does freshman Shannon Buffington have a good eye from the pitching mound, but she has a keen eye at the plate, evidenced by her team-best 11 walks this season.

ROUND TRIPPER: Freshman Katelyn King launched the season's first home run last Sunday against Potomac State of West Virginia, driving the walk-off win over the left centerfield fence.

THREE TRIPS TO THIRD: The Statesmen have had two triples in their last three games, turned in by Barnes and Ellis … The first of the season came from freshman August Ringer.

ON THE HILL: Freshman Shannon Buffington has shouldered the pitching duties for most of the season, appearing in 16 of 20  games and starting in 12 of them … She owns all seven of RBC's wins this season while logging 79.2 innings on the mound … She has struck out 29 batters and sports a 3.25 ERA … Eight of her 10 starts have been complete-game efforts.

WHAT'S NEXT: Following Friday and Saturday's games, the Statesmen will host Patrick Henry in doubleheader action on Saturday, March 26 at 2:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m.