• Opponent: Richard Bland Statesmen
• Scores:
  • Game 1: Harford 6 –  Richard Bland 4
  • Game 2: Harford 4 –  Richard Bland 12
• Records: Harford 1-1  |  Richard Bland 4-7
• Location: Petersburg, Va.
• The Short Story: The Harford softball team won their season opener on the back of freshman pitcher Emily Bowler's fantastic debut. The Fighting Owls would go on to drop game two as the teams split the doubleheader.
• Box Score: 
  • Game 1
  • Game 2

HOW IT HAPPENED

GAME 1

• The 2017 season for the Harford softball team is already quite promising. After a rough start last year, this year's team is showing signs of a significantly improved squad.
• That immediate improvement starts inside the circle as freshman hurler Emily Bowler held Richard Bland scoreless for the first five innings.
• Bowler struck out the side in the second inning on her way to a seven strikeout game, giving up just one earned run over seven innings pitched. 
• The Fighting Owls struggled to get their offense going early with just one base runner in the first four innings.
• That all changed in the top of the fifth with a Caroline Frank single to lead off the inning.
• Julia Gatch showed off the same big hitting ability that she had for the Harford volleyball team with an RBI double to deep right center. 
• Samantha Koga followed that up with a double down the right field line to score Gatch.
• Bowler, who in addition to pitching was also the lead-off hitter for the Fighting Owls, also hit a double down the left field line and was driven in by Emily Wikane for a 4-0 Harford lead.
• The Fighting Owls tacked on another run in the top of the sixth with an Alexandra Gasior RBI infield single to score Samantha Znamiroski.
• The Lady Statesmen finally was able to get to Bowler in the bottom of the sixth as the scored four runs and cut the Harford lead to 5-4.
• A big insurance run came in the top of the seventh when E. Bowler reached on an error, stole second, advanced to third on an Alexis Valentine single, and then scored on a double steal.
• E. Bowler pitched through a couple of base runners getting on to secure her first collegiate win.

• With a win already in the bag, Harford came out confident to start the second game as Emily Bowler lead off with a single, Emily Wikane joined her on the bases and they both scored on a big Samantha Znamiroski double to deep center.
• Caroline Frank singled to right field to score Znamiroski as Harford took an early 3-0 lead.
• Alexis Valentine toed the rubber for game two and struggled to find a rhythm early giving up seven runs in the first.
• Harford was able to add a run in the fourth inning with Alexandra Gasior reaching base and then pinch runner Savannah Meyers scored on a Brittany Bergquist double.
• By then it was too little too late as Richard Bland forced a mercy rule finish in the fifth inning.

• Emily Bowler, Alexandra Gasior, and Julia Gatch all earned Triple Threat Owl Claws in game one with Samantha Znamiroski receiving one for game two.
• This is the first season the Harford softball team has won their first game of the year since 2010 when they beat Patrick Henry 7-2.
• Richard Bland and Harford played for just the third and fourth times in the sport of softball, as the Statesmen lead the young series 2-0.  Richard Bland swept a 2014 home doubleheader against the Fighting Owls by scores of 13-1 and 12-1 on March 9, 2014.  The two schools have been scheduled to play each of the past two seasons, as well; however, those contests were canceled each year due to inclement weather.

• Harford will continue their trek south as they play Florence-Darlington and Louisburg College in back-to-back games in North Carolina on Saturday, February 25.