CUMBERLAND – The Buckingham County High School softball team didn't let Cumberland High School hang around for long in a five-inning 10-0 victory over the Dukes on Thursday in Cumberland.

The Knights scored three runs in the top of the first and four in the top of the second to take any suspense out of the shortened outcome in a game that helped them get over a stinging loss to Central of Lunenburg two days prior.

“We really needed this one after that loss to Central,” said assistant coach Kimberly Price-Chambers, who was subbing (along with athletics director Ed Dike) for head coach Krissy Stearrett. “With our head coach not being here due to whatever is going around, it could have been a bad result. We could've let Central beat us twice, but the girls were ready to play, and I'm very proud of their effort.

“This was a 'need-to' win for us.”

Cumberland was held hitless by BCHS pitcher Melissa Wright, and was unable to do much with anything Wright did give them.

“We committed three errors on basic, fundamental plays in the first inning, and we couldn't do anything offensively to get back into the game,” said CHS head coach Travis Gilliam. “It's frustrating, and I know it's frustrating for them. There is no such thing as a routine play, but we have to work to make them as routine as possible.”

Case in point. Mackenzie Parker drew a one-out walk in the bottom of the first, and was doubled up on a sharp liner by Taylor Parker back to the pitcher, whose stab stole a sure single.

On the other end, Buckingham's hits found the ground with little problem. Buckingham's Kristen Jamerson singled in a run in the first, and tripled in the top of the second to clear the bases.

Buckingham scored three more runs in the top of the fourth, with two coming on an infield error and a third on an RBI single by Haley Allen.

Cumberland's best chance came in the bottom of the fourth. Parker and Kamren Gilliam reached base, but were unable to get anyone past second base.

“We have to be more aggressive at the plate,” said Gilliam, noting that there is a difference between the oft confused terms of eager and anxious. “We definitely need to be more eager.”

Buckingham was scheduled to host Goochland on Tuesday, before traveling to Bluestone on Thursday. Cumberland was scheduled to travel to Amelia on Tuesday, and will travel to Nottoway on Thursday.