DUNCAN, S.C. – The Converse (2-24) softball team fell twice on Tuesday afternoon to Mississippi University for Women (10-8) at Tyger River Park. The Owls built big leads early and held on late for the 10-5 and 8-5 doubleheader sweep.

GAME ONE: CONVERSE 5, MUW 10

The Owls struck for five runs on five hits in the top of the first inning to put Converse in a hole early. Makayla Tayl cashed in a 2-RBI double down the left field line during the at-bat. The Vals got two of those runs back in the home half of the first, stringing together three hits, but could have had a bigger inning, leaving two runners on base.

Jena Massing led the frame off with a single to right field and Marissa Steadman followed that with a bunt for a hit, putting runners on first and second with no outs. Allison Plafcan brought Massing home with a base hit up the middle before Mariah Blackmon walked to load the bases. After a strikeout, Meredith Quarles tacked on the Valkyries' second run, reaching on a fielder's choice.

MUW made the score 6-2 with a single run in the third, but Converse came right back with a three-spot in the bottom of the third to cut the deficit to 6-5. Steadman doubled down the left field line and came around to score on an error by the Owls' defense while Meredith Quarles tallied an RBI single two batters later. Quarles later came around to score an unearned run.

However, the Owls blew the game open with four runs in the top of the fourth, running the score to 10-5. That would be all the run support needed as Mississippi University for Women took game one by the same score.

GAME TWO: CONVERSE 5, MUW 8

Just like game one, MUW put the pressure on the Vals early with seven runs over the first three innings. A single run in the first was followed by two in the second and four more in the third, putting the Owls ahead 7-0 after two and a half innings of play.

Converse was finally able to break across the scoreboard in the bottom of the third. Massing drew a walk to start the frame before moving to second on a wild pitch and third on a base hit by Steadman. A stolen base and walk loaded the bases for the Valkyries. That set the stage for Blackmon, who doubled to left center, allowing Massing and Steadman to score. Unfortunately, that would be all the runs Converse picked up as a double play ball and groundout ended the frame.

Mississippi University for Women tacked on a single run in the top of the fourth to make the count 8-2 in favor of the Owls, but Converse came back with a run of its own in the bottom of the fourth. Once again the Valkyries left the game on the bases, stranding three more runners in the half inning.

The Valkyries defense held MUW off the scoreboard over the next three innings and the offense made things interesting in the bottom of the seventh. A pair of walks to start the frame came around to score after a two-RBI single by Massing and the Vals had the bases loaded with two outs, but a fielder's choice ended the thought of a comeback for Converse and MUW took game two by the final of 8-5.

The Valkyries will be back in action tomorrow afternoon as they host MUW once more for a doubleheader. Game one is slated to begin at 3 p.m.