MOUNT OLIVE, N.C. – The Converse (2-30, 0-4 CC) softball team couldn't earn its first conference win of the season, falling twice to Mount Olive (11-15, 2-2 CC) on Sunday afternoon at Nancy Chapman Field. The Valkyries managed just two runs over the pair of games and took losses by the finals of 9-0 and 6-2.

GAME ONE: CONVERSE 0, MOUNT OLIVE 9 (5 INNINGS)

Mount Olive scored early and often, racing out to an 8-0 lead after just three innings of play. In a four-run first the Valkyries were able to get the leadoff hitter for the Trojans, but the next five hitters reached safely via either a hit or walk, allowing UMO to build the early lead.

The Valkyries put runners on first and second with two outs in the top of the second after Makenzie Wenz singled and Mckayla Davis drew a walk, but was unable to cut into the lead, leaving the runners stranded. That missed chance proved costly for CC as Mount Olive pushed across two more runs in the second as wells as two in the third.

Converse was not able to collect a base runner in the fourth and fifth frames and UMO added a single run in the home half of the fourth to push the lead to 9-0, eventually taking game one by the same score due to the run rule.

GAME TWO: CONVERSE 2, MOUNT OLIVE 6

Game two started differently as the Valkyries jumped on the board early with a run in the top of the first. Wenz led off with a walk before moving to second on a sacrifice bunt by Marissa Steadman. Back-to-back singles by Jena Massing and Mariah Blackmon allowed Wenz to touch the plate, giving the Vals an early lead.

However, the Trojans came back with four runs in the bottom of the first to make the Converse lead short-lived. The big blow came off the bat of Brittany Ingram, who blasted a two-run homer to left field. Oliver followed that with a solo shot to go back-to-back.

Singles runs in the second and third for Mount Olive pushed the lead to 6-1, but Converse was able to get one of those scores back in the top of the fourth. After the first two batters were retired to start the inning, Massing coaxed a two-out walk before coming home to score on a ringing double to right field by Wenz. Unfortunately, that was the last run Converse pushed across, dropping the nightcap by the final of 6-2.

The Valkyries will return to action on Thursday, March 22 as they play host to Lander at Tyger River Park. Game one is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m.