GREENWOOD, S.C.- The Converse softball team opened up their inaugural season with a twinbill defeat at the hands of Lander 8-1, and 8-0(5).

Mckayla Davis (Concord, N.C.) and Shelby Bullock (Horseshoe Beach, Fla.) led the Valkyries with two hits apiece in the doubleheader. Bullock had a double.  Marissa Steadman (Roebuck, S.C.) took the loss in game one pitching a complete game.  Morgan Marlow (Murrells Inlet, S.C.) took the loss in game two.

Converse (0-2) started off the contest with a Tristan Harvey (Anacoco, La.) walk to record the first baserunner for the Valkyries, but was stranded at second base.  

M. Davis record the first hit for the program in the second inning with a single to left center.

S. Bullock gave the Valkyries life in the top of the fifth leading off the inning with a double.  Bullock would come around to score after a throwing miscue by the Bearcats to give Converse a 1-0 lead.

Lander (2-2) answered in the bottom of the inning with five runs off two hits.  Lander started off the inning with a walk followed by a double to knot things at 1-1.  Back-to-back errors allowed two more Bearcats to score.  Lander would produce two more runs in the inning to take the 5-1 lead.

Maddison Lukens (Gilbert, Ariz.) started the sixth off with a double but was later stranded at third. Lander tacked on three more runs in the bottom of the sixth to take the win 8-1.

In the nightcap, Harvey started off the contest once again with a walk.  Lukens bunted Harvey over to second.  Morgan Marlow drew a walk but was left on base to end the first.

Lander kicked things off in the bottom of the first inning with back-to-back walks. After grabbing two outs in the inning, the Bearcats struck first with a triple to right field to score two.

The Bearcats would add two more in the bottom of the second to lead 4-0 before taking the 8-0 run rule after the fifth inning.

Converse turns around and plays against Coker on Sunday, February 7 in Hartsville, S.C.  First pitch is at 1pm for the doubleheader.

Notes:

First baserunner: Tristan Harvey, First inning (Game one), walk

First hit: Mckayla Davis, Second inning (Game one), single to left center

First extra base hit: Shelby Bullock, Fifth inning (Game one), double to left center

First Pitching Strikeout: Marissa Steadman, Second inning (Game one) Strike out looking.