BELMONT, N.C.  – The Converse University softball team (19-29, 11-13 Conference Carolinas) further extended their program record for wins in a season by splitting their final doubleheader of the season against the Belmont Abbey Crusaders (21-25, 8-16 Conference Carolinas). The Valkyries won game one of the doubleheader 6-2 but fell 12-4 in five innings in game two.

Senior Sydney Watson hit one home run in game one, breaking her own single-season record she set last year.

Fellow senior Riley Lingerfelt tossed a complete game in game one, her 16th of the season. She struck out four. Freshman CJ McBride received the loss in game two.

Game One: Converse 6, Belmont Abbey 2

A lead-off triple in the bottom of the first turned into the first run of the game as Belmont Abbey struck first in the bottom of the opening frame.

The Valkyries took the lead in the top of the third inning as Watson hit her program-record 11th home run of the season, driving in junior Aubree Leonard who hit a one-out single earlier in the inning. The Crusaders tied the game with a two-out double in the bottom of the inning.

Sophomore Kiarra Thomas gave the Valkyries the lead again in the top of the fourth with a two-run home run, scoring sophomore Madison Davis who hit a lead-off single.

The Valkyries plated their final two runs of the game in the top of the seventh inning. The first run game around to score on a throwing error and then that runner also came around to score. Belmont Abbey had one runner reach in the bottom of the seventh, but failed to make much else happen as Converse won 6-2.

Game Two: Belmont Abbey 12, Converse 4 (5 Innings)

The Crusaders again struck first as a lead-off walk helped back-to-back one-out doubles plate a pair of runs for the Crusaders. A long bottom of the second inning resulted in just three runs for the Crusaders.

Watson singled to lead off the top of the third inning. Sophomore Angela Tucker pinch ran and reached second via a stolen base. She came around to score when freshman Olivia Jones knocked a double into left field. Belmont Abbey scored four runs in the bottom of the inning.

After the Valkyries' half of the fourth inning was extended on a throwing error, Jones again drove in runs with a single into center field, plating two. Another error allowed another Valkyries' run to score. Belmont Abbey plated three runs of their own in the bottom of the inning and held on to win 12-4.

On deck for the Valkyries:
The Valkyries await their final ranking in the Conference Carolinas KPI standings to be released at the conclusion of all Conference Carolinas competitions on Friday, April 18. The Conference Carolinas Softball Championship is set to begin on Thursday, April 24. 

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