Petersburg, VA - The second day of the softball season was one to forget for the Howard Community College Dragons, as they were swept by Richard Bland College.

One day after dropping 26 runs against Fayetteville Tech, the Dragons bats went dry against the Statesmen. Howard scored just six runs across their two games, losing 15-4 in game one and 7-2 in game two.

Game One: Statesmen 15, Dragons 4
Howard found themselves in an early hole as they trailed 7-0 after the first inning. A pitching change saw Micah Howell (Columbia, MD/Atholton) take over on the mound and slow down Richard Bland's advance, while the Dragons eased back into the contest. Howard got within four runs, but an eight-run explosion by the Statesmen over the next two innings ended any chance the Dragons had. Both teams ran out of steam after the fourth, with no runs scored down the stretch.

 Courtney Johnson (Fulton, MD/Reservoir), Micah Howell (Columbia, MD/Atholton), and Giana Sablan (Hagatna, Guam/Academy of Our Lady of Guam) each recorded two hits, while Marissa Webb (Hanover, MD/Mount de Sales) and Raegan Perkes (Laurel, MD/Laurel) recorded two RBIs. The Dragons snatched two stolen bases, and Webb hit the lone home run of the game. Courtney Johnson (Fulton, MD/Reservoir) recorded two doubles for the Dragons. Pitching wise, the Dragons allowed just seven hits across two pitchers.

Game Two: Statesmen 7, Dragons 2
Sophia Steele (Eldersburg, MD/Liberty) took the mound in game two and immediately made an impact. Steele shut out the Statesmen through two innings, while the Dragons took the lead on RBIs from Marissa Webb (Hanover, MD/Mount de Sales) and Courtney Johnson (Fulton, MD/Reservoir). Johnson's RBI was off a triple, the first of the season for the Dragons.

Howard's hot start was cooled off in the bottom of the third when the Statesmen scored five runs. The Dragons changed things up with Morgan Ryan (Laurel, MD/Atholton) taking the mound, but a further two runs by Richard Bland in the bottom of the fourth ended any chance of a Dragons comeback. Howard's bats failed to connect, handing the Dragons their second straight loss.

Ryan had two hits and pitched three innings with four strikeouts. Steele recorded one strikeout across two innings of work. Raegan Perkes (Laurel, MD/Laurel) stole a pair of bases to add to the Dragons mammoth total of stolen bags to open the season.

Howard faces the Statesmen once more on Monday at noon before returning home.