Statesmen Split Road Doubleheader, Bounce Back with Game Two Shutout

SOUTH PRINCE GEORGE, VA — Richard Bland College Softball battled through a tough opening game before responding with a gritty shutout victory to split a road doubleheader at Patrick & Henry Community College on Tuesday.

In game one, the Statesmen fell behind early as Patrick & Henry erupted for 14 runs over the first two innings, ultimately handing RBC a 4-16 loss in five innings. Despite the deficit, RBC showed fight at the plate. Sally Campos led the way, going 2-for-3 with two RBI and a run scored, while Sydney Thompson and Daphne Hall each added a hit and a run. Kamryn Lane, Marissa Anderson, and Jaylin Daggins also contributed hits in the effort. The Statesmen plated a run in the third before adding three more in the fourth, highlighted by Campos' two-run production. Shekinah Soto also drove in a run. In the circle, Grace Urban took the loss, while Emma Shelhorse provided relief over the final three innings.

RBC quickly turned the page in game two, delivering a strong response behind a dominant pitching performance from Ava Balli to secure a 1-0 victory. Balli was outstanding, tossing a complete-game shutout while allowing just three hits and striking out seven to earn her 15th win of the season. Offensively, the Statesmen broke through in the sixth inning. Claudia Minetree reached and later scored, while Arianna Manson delivered the game's only RBI with a clutch hit. Manson paced the offense with a 2-for-3 performance, while Jaclyn Betti, Kamryn Lane, and Minetree each added a hit as RBC totaled five on the game. The Statesmen defense was also sharp, committing no errors behind Balli's complete-game effort to secure the shutout.

The Richard Bland College Softball team will next travel to Mid Atlantic Christian University for their final doubleheader of the regular season, on Saturday, April 25^th. First pitch of the doubleheader is set for 1pm.

For the full schedule and updates throughout the season, visit https://www.rbcathletics.com/sports/sball/2025-26/schedule or follow @rbcsoftball on social media.