SPARTANBURG, S.C.  – A fifth-inning lead for the Converse University softball team (19-30, 11-13 Conference Carolinas) wasn't enough as the Southern Wesleyan Warriors (30-13, 16-8 Conference Carolinas) came from behind in the sixth inning to win the single-elimination play-in game 9-5.

Senior Riley Lingerfelt, in her final appearance in purple and gold, tossed all six innings and struck out four batters.

After junior Aubree Leonard singled to open the game and reached third on the next at-bat, first-team all-conference honoree Sydney Watson doubled to center field, giving the Valkyries their first-ever postseason lead. Southern Wesleyan tied the game in the bottom of the inning.

Both teams went scoreless in the second inning before Converse struck in the top of the third. Another double from Watson brought home freshman Charley Swartzel to take a 2-1 lead. Sophomore Angela Tucker, running for Watson, came around to score as junior Jaydin Gentile picked up the RBI. SWU took the lead in the bottom of the inning.

Converse retook the lead in the top of the fifth. Gentile picked up her second RBI of the game with a bases-loaded single up the middle. A Southern Wesleyan error allowed a second Converse run to score later in the inning.

Southern Wesleyan scored five runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to take a 9-5 lead and held on to win the game.

Follow Converse
https://www.facebook.com/ConverseValkyries
Twitter: @ValkyriesSB
Instagram: @valkyriessoftball
TikTok: @ValkyriesSoftball
Youtube.com/Converse Athletics