SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Deja vu struck the Tyger River Park complex on Saturday as the Converse University softball team (2-2) defeated the St. Thomas Aquinas Spartans (0-4) by a final score of 5-4 in the last game of the day for day two of the Valkyrie Classic Tournament. The Valkyries opened the day with a lengthy, eight-inning defeat at the hands of the Mars Hill Lions (3-1).

Junior Riley Lingerfelt picked up her second win of the season for one inning in the circle in the second game of the day. Senior Madeline Modica notched the walk-off RBI with two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning.

Despite the loss, the 18 runs scored in the game against Mars Hill is a single-game record for the Valkyries. Three Valkyries tied for the team-lead in RBIs in the high-scoring affair: sophomore AJ Albano, junior Sydney Watson and freshman Kiarra Thomas, who each had four of the team's 17 RBIs.

Game One: Mars Hill 19, Converse 18

The Valkyries found themselves down early as the Lions posted four runs in the top of the first inning. Converse cut the lead to three by securing a run of their own in the bottom of the opening frame. After Mars Hill got the run back in the top of the third, Converse cut the lead to two runs with a two-spot in the bottom of the third. Entering the fourth inning of play, Converse trailed 5-3.

Mars Hill increased their lead in the fourth and fifth innings with three runs in each frame. Converse negated the fifth inning three-piece with three runs of their own in the bottom of that same frame, avoiding cutting the game short due to the run rule.

The Valkyries got to work cutting into the lead in the sixth with five runs. Four more from the Lions in the top of the seventh put the score at 16-11 with three outs remaining for the Valkyries. And rally they did as junior Sydney Watson knocked the first homerun of the season for the Valkyries, scoring herself and sophomore Karleigh Crabill, cutting the lead to three runs. Albano hit a bases-clearing two-out double to give the Valkyries new life. But with the game-winning run on third, an inning-ending pop out halted those efforts.

After allowing three runs in the top of the eighth inning, Converse scored runs on two-consecutive at bats, but with two outs, the ground out to the Lions' pitcher proved fatal and the Valkyries fell 19-18.

Game Two: Converse 5, St. Thomas Aquinas 4

After a scoreless first inning, Converse took a lead in the bottom of the second as sophomore Ayellad Howard singled through the left side of the infield scoring two runs and putting the Valkyries up 2-1.
The Spartans reclaimed the lead by scoring one run in the third and fourth innings. Converse once again tied the game in the bottom of the fourth when Howard tripled to bring the tying run home. Howard scored when Albano sacrificed herself to push across the Valkyries fourth run.

Converse gave up one run in the top of the sixth and the game was once again tied. After a leadoff single, Lingerfelt returned to the circle for the Valkyries. After one Spartan reached on an error and one reached via a bunt, the Valkyries found themselves in trouble with the bases loaded and no outs.

Calm, cool and collected, Lingerfelt proceeded to strike out the side, sending Converse to the plate with a chance to win the game.

With two outs and a runner on third, Modica beat out the throw from the Spartans' shortstop and secured the game 5-4 for the Valkyries.

Converse is back on the diamond tomorrow as they wrap the Valkyrie Classic against Limestone and Mars Hill.

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