BANNER ELK, N.C. – A seventh-inning double from sophomore Charley Swartzel led the Converse University softball team past the Lees-McRae Bobcats 7-6 in game one of the teams' doubleheader on Saturday afternoon. Lees-McRae won game two 6-5.

With the split, Converse moves to 9-23 overall and 5-7 in Conference Carolinas action. Lees-McRae is now 8-15 overall and 2-7 in conference action.

Senior Madison Davis earned her first win in the circle of the year for 1.1 innings pitched in game one. She allowed no hits or baserunners in that appearance. Senior Kiarra Thomas, freshman Tyler Karabach, sophomore Olivia Jones and freshman Alexis Felker all recorded multiple RBIs during at least one of the doubleheader's two games. Thomas did so in both games.

Game One: Converse 7, Lees-McRae 6

Thomas drove in the first run of the game with a one-out RBI double in the top of the first inning. Karabach brought home the second run with a sac fly two batters later. Back-to-back one-out RBI hits from the Bobcats tied the game in the bottom of the first.

After a scoreless second and third, the Valkyries reclaimed the lead on a two-run homer from Jones. The Bobcats scratched back one run in the bottom of the inning.

Converse scored another two runs in the top of the fifth inning as Thomas notched a single and Karabach doubled into center field. Lees-McRae again scored one run in the bottom of the inning.

Back-to-back two-out hits evened the score 6-6 in the bottom of the sixth inning.

Swartzel was the difference maker in the top of the seventh inning as she hit a two-out RBI double into left-center field. The Bobcats went down in order in the bottom of the seventh as Converse held on to win 7-6.

Game Two: Lees-McRae 6, Converse 5

Lead-off singles from senior Aubree Leonard and Karabach both came around to score in the top of the first inning as Thomas and senior Madison Davis collected the first RBIs of the game.

The Bobcats loaded the bases with two outs in the bottom of the first, but left all three stranded.

Thomas hit a one-out solo shot to left field to put Converse up 3-0 in the top of the third inning. A lead-off double came around to score in the bottom of the inning, cutting the lead to 3-1.

After a lead-off walk to senior McKenna Schuler, Felker extended the lead with a two-run bomb to center field in the top of the fourth. Lees-McRae cut the lead to one run, 5-4, with a three-run fourth.

A pair of one-out RBI doubles gave Lees-McRae the lead in the bottom of the sixth inning. The Bobcats held on to win 6-5.

On deck for the Valkyries
The Valkyries return to action on Tuesday, March 24, as they host the King University Tornado at Tyger River Stadium. First pitch is scheduled for 2 P.M.

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