This article has been updated from its original version to reflect the Valkyries' doubleheader at Belmont Abbey being postponed.
SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Converse softball team kicks off a four-game weekend at home on Saturday by hosting conference-foe Southern Wesleyan. Converse rounds out the weekend on the road with a regional matchup against the Anderson Trojans. Records in this article reflect results through March 20, 2024.
Streaming: The doubleheader against Southern Wesleyan will be available for free via the Conference Carolinas Digital Network. The matchup at Anderson will be streamed via FloSoftball. A paid subscription is required.
Southern Wesleyan: Game One Game Two
Anderson: Doubleheader Link ($)
Live Stats: The home team of each doubleheader will keep live stats for the games. Those links can be found below.
Southern Wesleyan
Anderson: Game One Game Two
Converse Notes:
- Converse enters the weekend 13-19 after dropping both games to divisional-foe King on Tuesday. The Valkyries sport a winning record at Tyger River Stadium, going 10-8 through their first 18 home games.
- As of writing, junior Riley Lingerfelt is tied for second nationally in strikeouts with 141 on the season. She broke the program single-season record last Wednesday against North Greenville, a record which stood since the Valkyries' first season in 2016.
- Sophomore Ayellad Howard leads the Valkyries offensively with a .469 batting average. She also leads the team in runs scored (33), walks (15), on-base percentage (.536), stolen bases (15) and triples (4). Howard is tied for first in Conference Carolinas in triples.
- Freshman first baseman Madison Davis boasts the team's highest fielding percentage for all fielders with over 50 defensive chances. She has a .984 fielding percentage.
Southern Wesleyan Notes:
Converse vs Southern Wesleyan (15-11, 5-1 Conference Carolinas)
Series: Belmont Abbey leads 12-2
Last Time Out: Converse won 12-3, April 5, 2023
- Entering the weekend, two Warriors are tied for the highest batting average on the team, sophomore Olivia Haag and junior Avery Mercer. Both players are hitting .338 this season. Senior Addi Johnson leads Southern Wesleyan in several categories including: runs scored (32), doubles (8), triples (4), RBIs (26) and total bases (56). She is second on the team in home runs (5) and walks (15).
- Among qualified pitchers, Haag leads the Warriors in the circle. She has pitched 64.1 innings, approximately 40% of the team's innings. She has a 3.81 ERA this season with a .284 opponent batting average.
- With a .959 fielding percentage, the Warriors are in a three-way tie for the fourth-highest fielding percentage in Conference Carolinas.
Anderson Notes:
Converse at Anderson (17-11, 8-0 South Atlantic Conference)
Series: Anderson leads 6-0
Last Time Out: Anderson won 11-0 (5 Innings), Feb. 16, 2019
- The Trojans are led offensively by senior Hannah Whitaker, who is hitting .384 and has appeared in all 28 games. She is tied for the team lead in home runs (7) and slugging percentage (.709) and is second in RBIs (23).
- Senior Laken Maxwell is the team's ace pitcher. In 15 appearances this season, she has a 9-5 record. She has started 13 games and tossed 82.2 innings, accumulating a 2.03 ERA. Most impressively, she is fourth nationally in strikeouts with 135 this season, trailing Converse's Lingerfelt by just six.
- With a .975 fielding percentage, Anderson is tied for third defensively in the SAC. That same fielding percentage would make them first in Conference Carolinas.
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