JOHNSON CITY, TENN. – The Converse softball team (2-8) took the Carson-Newman Eagles (5-2) down to the wire in the team's third meeting in two season, but the Valkyries ultimately fell 6-5 to the Eagles. The Valkyries dropped game two of their twinbill 11-3 to Emory & Henry (3-3) in 6 innings.
Carson-Newman won their second game of the day over Lees-McRae 9-1 in 5 innings, improving to 5-2 on the season. Emory & Henry dropped their first game of the day to King 2-1, returning their season record to .500.
Senior pitcher Riley Lingerfelt and freshman pitcher CJ McBride started the games for the Valkyries. Lingerfelt tossed a complete-game, six-inning outing in game one, her seventh appearance of the season. McBride tossed 5.1 innings in game two against the Wasps. She struck out six batters, a new career high for the Alpharetta native.
Offensively, the Valkyries collected 13 hits, nearly evenly split between 7 hits in the first game and 6 in the second game. Senior Sydney Watson had two hits in both games while sophomore Kiarra Thomas had two hits against Carson-Newman. Watson tallied three of the team's five RBIs in game one and one of three in game two.
Game One: Carson-Newman 6, Converse 5
After 1-2-3 innings from both sides in the first, Carson-Newman struck first in the bottom of the second with a one-out solo home run. A one-out double threatened a big inning from Carson-Newman, but Lingerfelt left her stranded in scoring position with an inning-ending strikeout.
The Valkyries took the lead in the top of the third when freshman Charley Swartzel knocked in one run with a bases-loaded sacrifice fly. Watson followed with a two-RBI single, putting Converse up 3-1.
An Eagles' sacrifice fly in the bottom of the third inning cut the lead to one run, 3-2. A leadoff home run in the bottom of the fourth drew the game even once again.
Watson and Thomas both knocked in runs in the top of the fifth inning, once again giving Converse a two-run lead. After loading the bases with two outs, Lingerfelt almost escaped the inning unscathed but a bases-loaded walk cut the lead to one run, 5-4, once again.
A dropped fly ball in the bottom of the sixth inning allowed two runs to score, giving Carson-Newman a one-run lead. In the top of the seventh, Thomas knocked a two-out double, but was left stranded as the next batter popped out to end the game 6-5.
Game Two: Emory & Henry 11, Converse 3 (6 Innings)
Emory & Henry started the scoring early with three runs in the top of the first inning. The Valkyries fought back in the bottom of the second with two runs which were driven in by Swartzel and Watson once again.
It wouldn't be until the fourth inning when the scoring resumed, with the Wasps putting up four runs on three hits and an error in the inning. They put up four more runs in the top of the sixth inning, putting them up 11-2 and in run-rule territory.
In the bottom of the sixth inning, the Valkyries plated one run but needed at least two to continue the game, which was ended via the run rule, 11-3.
On deck for the Valkyries:
The Valkyries return to the diamond tomorrow, Feb. 9 to take on two more SAC foes, Tusculum and UVA Wise. Converse returns to the friendly confines of Tyger River Stadium on Saturday, Feb. 15 as they host the Tusculum Pioneers for a doubleheader. First pitch on the 15th is scheduled for 1 P.M.
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