Baseball Defeats Camp, Takes Lenoir Series 2-1

SOUTH PRINCE GEORGE, VA – The Richard Bland College Baseball team traveled to Camp Community College on Thursday, March 27^th for a non-conference game with the Hurricanes, and traveled to Lenoir Community College on Saturday for games one and two of the conference series with the Lancers. The Statesmen hosted the Lancers on Sunday in game three. After completion of the games, the Statesmen moved to 15-15 overall, 7-11 in conference play after defeating the Hurricanes of Camp Community College on Thursday 12-7, dropping game one against the Lancers 8-9, and picking up game two and three wins 9-5 and 17-9.

In game one, Richard Bland fell to the Lancers 8-9 on Saturday on the final play of the game. The game was tied at eight in the bottom of the ninth when a singled scored the game-winning run for Lenoir. Despite the loss, Richard Bland collected 12 hits. Lenoir Community College got on the board in the bottom of the first inning after two walks and a fielder's choice, each scored one run. Sam Gupta hit a sacrifice fly, which helped Richard Bland tie the game at seven in the top of the eighth. Richard Bland took the lead in the top of the ninth. Macho Santiago doubled, scoring one run, to give the Statesmen the advantage, 8-7. Nate Riggs began the game for Richard Bland. The hurler allowed three hits and six runs over four and one-third innings, striking out three and walking five. Connor Powell, Carson Herod, Keegan Mahoney, Jordan Ramsey, and Gupta each collected two hits for the Statesmen.

In game two, Connor Powell's big day propelled the Statesmen past Lenoir Community College. Powell collected three hits in four at bats, as Richard Bland College defeated Lenoir 9-5. Powell singled in the second inning, doubled in the fourth inning, singled in the seventh. Richard Bland was the first to get on the board in the second when a passed ball scored one run. Richard Bland scored six runs on five hits in the top of the fourth inning. Keegan Mahoney singled, scoring one run, Powell doubled scoring two runs, Sam Gupta doubled scoring one run, and Myles Holmes hit a sacrifice fly, scoring two runs. The Lancers scored two runs in the bottom of the sixth on a home run to left field. Richard Bland tallied 11 hits in the game. Seth Truesdale and Jordan Ramsey each collected multiple hits for the Statesmen. Ramsey also stole three bases. Jackson Hulcher started on the hill for Richard Bland. The right-handed pitcher gave up four hits and three runs over five innings, striking out two and walking five. Ryan Paul pitched one inning of shutout ball for Richard Bland. The pitcher gave up zero hits, striking out none and walking none.

In game three, Keegan Mahoney collected four hits in four at bats, as Richard Bland defeated the Lancers 17-9 on Sunday. Mahoney singled in the first inning, hit a home run to right field in the third inning, doubled in the fourth inning, and singled in the sixth. Both offenses were strong at the plate as Richard Bland collected 17 hits and Lenoir 11 in the high-scoring affair. Richard Bland got on the board in the bottom of the first inning after Macho Santiago walked, and Connor Powell lined out, each scoring one run. Mahoney's home run to right field gave Richard Bland the lead 4-2, in the bottom of the third. Lenoir took the lead in the top of the fourth. The Statesmen flipped the game on its head in the bottom of the fourth, scoring five runs on five hits to take the lead, 9-6. The biggest blow in the inning was a home run to left field by Myles Holmes that drove in two. Richard Bland took the lead in the bottom of the fifth. Miguel Martin doubled, scoring two runs, to give the Statesmen the lead 11-9. Three more runs crossed the plate for the Statesmen in the sixth inning to extend the lead to 14-9. Sam Gupta singled, scoring one run, and Samuel Young homered to left field, scoring two runs. Richard Bland scored three runs in the bottom of the seventh on a home run to left field by Santiago. Ryan Paul earned the win for the Statesmen. The righty surrendered two hits and zero runs over two-thirds of an inning, striking out one and walking none. David Smith opened the game for Richard Bland. The righty gave up four hits and six runs over three and one-third innings, striking out five and walking three. Adam That, collected the save, while Michael Keyes also appear in relief.

The Richard Bland College Baseball team next hosts the College of Southern Maryland on Tuesday, April 1^st in a rescheduled, non-conference, single nine-inning game. First pitch in set for 1pm.