Florence, SC – After splitting their season opener doubleheader on Thursday, The Converse Softball Team traveled to Florence, SC to face Francis Marion University.  Today's match-up would be another doubleheader and the Valkyries were hoping to put in another solid performance after their 13-1 win in Game 2 on Thursday. 

Game 1
Abbigale Outlaw opened up the game advancing to first, off a Patriots' error, when Francis Marion could not handle it in the infield.  Unfortunately, Ryan Finazzo could not advance Outlaw, as she struck out at the plate.  Next at bat was Allison Plafcan, who doubled up the middle, allowing Brooklyn McElrath to come to the plate with runners on second and third, with only 1 out.  McElrath would put Converse on the board with a sacrifice fly to right field, driving in Outlaw for the early, 1-0 lead.  The Valkyries added another run when Jordan Moore hit a pitch to right field, scoring Plafcan, to increase their lead to 2-0, and that is how their half of the inning would end.  In the bottom of the 1^st inning, Jordan Moore got the start on the mound for Converse and retired the first 2 batters but with 2 outs, Francis Marion was able to get runners on first and second.  However, Moore would force the Patriot hitter to ground out to third, allowing the Valkyries to take their 2-0 lead into the 2^nd inning.

Neither team was able to get anything going in the 2^nd.  In the 3^rd Plafcan would hit a line drive to left field, for a single.  She advanced to 2^nd on a throwing error by the catcher, who was trying to pick her off.  Plafcan then moved to 3^rd on a fly out to right field by McElrath.  Unfortunately, the Valkyries were unable to advance Plafcan across the plate.  In their half of the 3^rd, the Patriots tied the game up on a 2 run double and that is how the top of the 4^th would begin.    

Jordan Moore got things started for Converse as she reached 1^st base on an error by the shortstop.  Coach George inserted Riley Coyle as a pinch runner, and she successfully stole 2^nd and ended up reaching 3^rd on a throwing error.  Ellie Stout would come to the plate and smack an RBI double to center field, putting the Valkyries back in front, 3-2.  Stout eventually scored from 3^rd, increasing the lead to 4-2.  Allison Plafcan came to the plate and drove in Converse's 5^th run of the game with an RBI double.  In their half of the 4^th, Francis Marion quickly added a run to pull within 2, 5-3.  Another RBI double trimmed the lead to 5-4, and eventually the Patriots were able to tie the score at 5-5.  Ellie Stout would drop a fly ball in left field, which allowed the Patriots to take a 6-5 lead, as the inning came to an end.  In the bottom of the 5^th, with two outs, Francis Marion was able to drive in another run for their largest lead of the game, 7-5.  Eventually they scored another run and that is how Game 1 would end, with the Patriots defeating Converse, 8-5.

The Valkyries were led by Allison Plafcan who went 3-4 from the plate, with 1 RBI, followed by Ellie Stout who went 1-3, including an RBI, run and a stolen base.  Pitcher Jordan Moore would suffer the loss after pitching 3.2 Innings and giving up 8 hits.  Converse will look to bounce back in Game 2 of the Doubleheader. 

Game 2
Reagan Owens would get the start for the Valkyries and she was looking to slow down the bats of Francis Marion.  Unfortunately, the Patriots were able to get on the scoreboard first in the bottom of the 1^st, to take a 1-0 lead.  In the 2^nd inning, Ellie Stout and Allison Plafcan got things started with back to back singles for Converse.  Freshman Maria Luce came to the plate and singled up the middle, driving in both Stout and Plafcan, to take a 2-1 lead.  However, Francis Marion would tie the game up in the bottom of the 3^rdon a fielder's choice. 

The Valkyries tried to break the tie but they were unable to mount any offense.  The Patriots quickly took advantage of that and in the 5th inning, they brought 6 runs across the plate, to go up by a score of 8-2.  In that inning they accounted for 6 hits, which included two home runs.  One was a 2-run HR and the other was a 3-run HR.  It was a tough inning for Converse, as they were keeping it close, until the home runs. 

In the bottom of the 6^th inning, Francis Marion added another run to increase their lead to 7, 9-2 over the Valkyries.  While they continued to play hard, unfortunately, Converse was unable to mount any type of comeback.   Game 2 would end with the Patriots adding one more run and prevailing 10-2, to sweep the doubleheader. 

Converse was led in Game 2 by Maria Luce, who went 1-2, with 2 RBI's, and with a .667 On base %.  Allison Plafcan finished the game going 1-3 with 1 run, 1 walk and 1 stolen base.  The Valkyries will have 10 days off and will return to action on February 10^th when they host Columbia International, in a doubleheader.  First pitch is scheduled for 4:00pm.