BELMONT, N.C. – Squaring off with divisional foe Belmont Abbey (21-14, 13-9 Conference Carolinas) for the second time this season, the Converse University softball team (17-35, 6-16 Conference Carolinas) dropped both games of their Wednesday afternoon doubleheader. The Crusaders first captured a 3-0 victory before taking game two 14-3.
Sophomore Ayellad Howard, freshman Madison Davis and junior Sydney Watson all notched hits in game one. Sophomore Karleigh Crabill had the team's only multi-hit performance of the day with a single and a double in game two. Freshman Ava Wells notched her first career RBI in the fifth inning of game two.
Junior Riley Lingerfelt tossed her 18th complete game of the season in game one. In six innings of work, she allowed just three runs, two earned, while tossing only 75 pitches.
Game One: Belmont Abbey 3, Converse 0
Lingerfelt retired the Crusaders in order in the first and third innings. She allowed one hit in each in the second and fourth innings, but stranded the runners, keeping the game even at zero.
A one-out walk was also left stranded for the Crusaders in the fifth inning. A pair of singles and a batter reaching on an error loaded the bases for Belmont Abbey with no outs in the sixth inning. A one out RBI double cleared the bases and proved to be the difference in the game as the Crusaders won 3-0.
Game Two: Belmont Abbey 14, Converse 3 (5 Innings)
Belmont Abbey struck for a pair of runs in the bottom of the first and added a five-piece in the second inning.
Sophomore Jaydin Gentile knocked an RBI single into right field in the top of the third, scoring senior Emily Ingle who also singled into right field to lead off the inning. Crabill also scored on a throwing error on the play.
The Crusaders plated four in the bottom of the third, bringing the lead to nine runs, 11-2. They rounded out their scoring with a three-run home run in the fourth inning.
Not done fighting, Crabill and sophomore Ariya Deans led off the fifth inning with a double and single respectively. Wells then notched her first collegiate RBI, scoring Crabill from third. The rally came just a bit too late as Belmont Abbey won the game 14-3 two at-bats later.
On deck for the Valkyries:
The Valkyries wrap up the regular season on Saturday, April 20 as they head to Banner Elk to take on Lees-McRae for the second time this season.
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