Laurinburg, North Carolina – In a rematch from last week, the Converse College Softball team faced the Knights of Saint Andrews University in a weekday doubleheader.  This time the Valkyries would travel to North Carolina, as the road team, and they were looking to get back in the win column after being swept by Francis Marion this past weekend.  Today's weather was much better then last week, as the sun was shining, with made it a great day for softball.
Game 1 became a pitching duel, as both teams were held scoreless through 4 innings.  Daija Irizarry got the start for Converse and turned in a 1 hit, 2 inning performance.  She was relieved by junior, Savannah Rodgers, who picked up where Irizarry left off, making it difficult for Saint Andrews to get anything across the plate.  The Valkyries bats came alive in the Top of the 5^th inning, as they would send 3 across home plate, behind the bat of Allison Plafcan.  Those 3 runs are all Converse would need as Rodgers shut down a late Knights' rally to take Game 1, 3-0.  The Valkyries were led by Plafcan who went 2-3 from plate, Grace McKinney at 1-3 and Abbigale Outlaw with 1-4.

Saint Andrews jumped ahead early in Game 2, going up 3-0 on a bases loaded walk.  Converse pitcher, Maria Luce was able to get out of the bottom of the 1^st inning with no further damage, but the Knights would enjoy the 3 run lead.  In the top of the 2^nd the Valkyries were able to get runners on 1^st and 3^rd, but unfortunately, Riley Coyle struck out swinging to end the inning.  Jordan Moore would come in for Luce and pitch to Saint Andrews in the bottom of the 2^nd inning.  With one out, the Knights stole home to go up 4-0 and that would be followed by an RBI single, extending their lead to 5 runs.  Eventually, Converse would get out of the inning, but still trailed 5-0.  Jordan Moore and Julianne Outlaw combined for 3 RBI's and pulled Converse within 2 runs, 5-3.  They would eventually score one more run and found themselves back in the game, trailing only 5-4.   

In the Top of the 6^th Inning, the Valkyries took advantage of a walk, and a stolen base, to get a rally going.  With 1 out in the inning, Allison Plafcan came to the plate and smacked a double up the middle scoring Kayla Rocha.  Abbigale Outlaw advanced to 3^rd base, but was able come home to tie the game at 6-6.  Plafacn would end up at 3^rd base, as well, and eventually scored on a bad throw to give Converse their first lead of the game, 7-6.  That is all the scoring they needed, as Maria Luce shut the Knights out in the 7^th and final inning, to earn the sweep.

Julianne Outlaw lead the Valkyries in Game 2 going 2-4 from the plate with 1 stolen base.  She was followed by Allison Plafcan who went 1-4 with 1 RBI, 1 Run and 1 Double.  Jordan Moore led the pitching staff going 5 innings and recording 3 strikeouts.  Converse is now 3-3 on the young season and will return to action on February 17^th, when they welcome in Columbia International University for a doubleheader at Tyger River Park.  First pitch is scheduled for 4:00pm.