SPARTANBURG, S.C. – With a revamped roster that includes 11 additions to the eight returners from last year's team, the Converse University softball team (0-2) kicked off their season with two games at Tyger River Park as part of day one of their third-annual Valkyrie Classic. The Valkyries fell in both games of the day. They first dropped a 10-inning affair to West Virginia Wesleyan 4-2 and followed by narrowly dropping a 6-5 game to Limestone.
Senior pitcher Riley Lingerfelt tossed all 10 innings in game one. She gave up just two earned runs while striking out 17 Bobcats, one strikeout shy of the program's single-game record which Lingerfelt set herself last season against Allen.
Freshman CJ McBride received her first collegiate start in game two, tossing all 7 innings. She struck out four batters while allowing six hits.
Game One: West Virginia Wesleyan 4, Converse 2 (10 Innings)
After two 1-2-3 innings from both teams to start the game, the Bobcats broke the game open in the top of the third with a one-out, bases-loaded single.
Junior infielder Katelynn Tuxbury knocked the Valkyries' first hit of the season in the bottom of the third but the inning was foiled with a screaming line drive that turned into a double play. Converse had to wait until the bottom of the fourth to draw the game even with an RBI single from senior outfielder Sydney Watson.
Regulation ended without either team scoring another run. West Virginia Wesleyan reclaimed the lead in the top of the eighth on an RBI bunt single but Lingerfelt minimized the damage, holding the Bobcats to one run.
Freshman outfielder Charley Swartzel, who had the only multi-hit game of the day for the Valkyries, knocked an RBI triple to draw the game even, but Converse was unable to push the game-sealing run across the plate.
The Bobcats plated two runs in the top of the 10th, sealing their 4-2 victory.
Game Two: Limestone 6, Converse 5
The second game of the day started out much faster for the Valkyries, with Limestone taking an early 1-0 lead before Converse responded in the bottom of the first with RBI hits from Watson and freshman Addie Branen.
Limestone reclaimed the lead in the top of the third with a two-run inning. Converse drew the game even when Swartzel, who doubled earlier in the inning, scored on a wild pitch.
A two-run home run off the top of the scoreboard in left field gave Limestone their third and final lead of the game. They added to the lead in the top of the seventh inning with another home run to left field.
The Valkyries plated two runs with two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning, but were unable to find the game-tying run as Limestone secured the 6-5 victory.
On deck for the Valkyries:
The Valkyries return to the diamond tomorrow, Saturday, Feb. 1, to take on Lynn and Limestone. First pitch is scheduled for noon.
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