GREENEVILLE, Tenn.  – Finding themselves within a run or leading in both games against the Tusculum Pioneers (8-7), the Converse University softball team (6-10) dropped both games of their Thursday doubleheader.

Junior Riley Lingerfelt received the loss in game one while fellow junior Sydney Watson received game two's loss. Lingerfelt allowed no earned runs in six innings pitched.

Freshman Kiarra Thomas went four-for-seven on the day with a double. Fellow freshman Madison Davis collected two of the team's three RBIs against the Pioneers.

Game One: Tusculum 2, Converse 1

Tusculum kicked off the scoring with a two-out infield single in the bottom of the first, which was followed by a throwing error allowing the run to score without an RBI.

Sophomore Victoria Dichio picked up the Valkyries' first hit of the afternoon with a two-out single in the second inning, but the Valkyries were unable to make anything of the opportunity.

It wouldn't be until the third inning when the Valkyries pushed their first and only run of the game across the plate. Again kicking things off with two outs, sophomore Chesney Miles singled to the Pioneers' shortstop. She advanced to third when sophomore Ayellad Howard singled into center field and came around to score on a throwing error.

After a batter was hit to start the bottom of the fourth, a steal and a wild pitch allowed the runner to reach third. A second walk put runners on the corners and an attempted back-pick at third went ary due to a throwing error, allowing the go ahead run to score. 

After a single put runners on the corners, an attempted double steal was foiled and the potential insurance run was thrown out at the plate. Converse escaped the inning giving up just one run.

With three chances remaining at the plate, the Valkyries managed to have two runners reach base, one via hit, and were unable to manufacture any more runs as Tusculum won the game 2-1.

Game Two: Tusculum 5, Converse 4

Sophomore Jaydin Gentile kicked off the scoring in game two with a two-out single into center field, scoring Dichio, who reached via fielder's choice, on a muffed throw by the Pioneers' catcher.

A lead-off double in the bottom of the third inning led to two Tusculum runs as it was followed by an RBI double and an RBI single. The Pioneers, with two outs, still managed to load the bases following the runs, but Dichio, who started the game in the circle for Converse, induced the final groundout, forcing Tusculum to settle for the pair of runs.

The Valkyries struck back in the next half inning when Davis knocked a two-out, two-RBI double into right field, again giving Converse a 3-2 lead.

A walk and an error put runners on the corners for Tusculum with no outs in the bottom of the fourth inning. They plated the tying run with a sacrifice fly but Converse escaped with minimal damage as Gentile threw out a runner attempting to steal third base and Thomas, now pitching, induced an inning-ending ground ball. Heading into the fifth inning, the score was even 3-3.

Watson reclaimed the lead for the Valkyries with a solo home run over the center field fence in the top of the fourth inning, but the lead was short lived as a one-out, two-RBI single gave the Pioneers their game-clinching run in the bottom of that same inning. Both teams were scoreless in the six and seventh innings and the Pioneers took game two 5-4.

On deck for the Valkyries:

The Valkyries continue their roadtrip as they head to Aiken, South Carolina for a doubleheader with the USC Aiken Pacers beginning at 1 P.M. Live video will be available via the Peach Belt Conference Digital Network while live stats will be kept at GoValkyries.com.

Follow Converse
https://www.facebook.com/ConverseValkyries
Twitter: @ValkyriesSB
Instagram: @valkyriessoftball
Youtube.com/Converse Athletics