WILSON & MURFREESBORO, N.C. – The Converse University softball team took a two-day eastern North Carolina road trip, facing off with the Barton Bulldogs on Saturday and the Chowan Hawks on Sunday. The Valkyries took game one against Barton 7-3 before falling 1-0 in game two. Chowan won both games, taking game one 4-0 and game two 8-4.

With the results, Converse moves to 11-35 overall and 7-17 in Conference Carolinas play. Barton moves to 21-25 overall and 10-16 in conference action. Chowan improves to 28-17 overall and 16-10 in conference play.

Saturday Game One: Converse 7, Barton 3

After a scoreless first inning, Converse struck first with a two-out pinch-hit RBI single from senior Karlie Gibson in the top of the second. Freshman Alexis Felker hit a one-out RBI single of her own in the top of the third, doubling Converse's lead.

The Valkyries added five more runs in the top of the fourth inning, all before recording the inning's first out. Freshman Tyler Karabach got the scoring with a bases-loaded walk. Seniors Kiarra Thomas and Madison Davis hit back-to-back two-RBI singles, giving Converse a 7-0 lead heading into the bottom of the fourth.

Barton plated all three of their runs on back-to-back singles of their own in the bottom of the fourth.

Converse and Barton both loaded the bases with two outs in the sixth, but neither was able to capitalize. The Bulldogs put two on with two outs in the bottom of the seventh, but freshman pitcher Tashi Fife reentered the game and shut down Barton's offense, earning her first career save and securing the game for Converse 7-3.

Saturday Game Two: Barton 1, Converse 0

Converse picked up a pair of two-out hits in the top of the first but stranded the pair on the corners. The Valkyries also put at least one runner in scoring position in the second, third and fourth innings. Barton had just one hit through the end of the fourth inning.

A crucial two-out fielding error in the bottom of the sixth inning allowed the game's only run to score.

Converse picked up a two-out hit in the top of the seventh, but a groundout to first base ended the game on the next at-bat, securing Barton's 1-0 win.

Sunday Game One: Chowan 4, Converse 0

Sophomore Olivia Jones picked up the game's first hit with a one-out double into right-center field, but the Valkyries failed to capitalize on the opportunity.

Chowan picked up their first two hits of the game in the bottom of the second. But it wasn't until the third inning when a two-out hit-by-pitch and walk came back to haunt the Valkyries as they were followed by a two-RBI single into right field, putting the Hawks up 2-0 heading into the fourth inning.

They added two more runs with a two-out two-RBI single up the middle in the bottom of the fifth inning, putting Chowan up 4-0.

Sophomore Charley Swartzel picked up Converse's second and final hit of the game with a two-out pinch-hit single down the left field line in the top of the seventh.

Sunday Game Two: Chowan 8, Converse 4

Back-to-back singles to open the game lead to a very early Converse lead, with Jones picking up the RBI. Graduate student Megan Monk singled later in the inning to drive home Converse's second run.

The game was otherwise scoreless until the top of the fourth inning when Converse plated another run via a Chowan error.

Chowan plated three runs in the bottom of the fifth and five runs in the bottom of the sixth to take an 8-3 lead into the game's final inning.

Sophomore Addie Branen and redshirt freshman Mary Buckner hit back-to-back one-out doubles in the top of the seventh, plating another run for the Valkyries, but it wasn't enough as Converse fell 8-4.

On deck for the Valkyries
The Valkyries return to action on Friday, April 17, as they host the Erskine Flying Fleet. First pitch is scheduled for 1 P.M. Converse is then right back on the diamond on Saturday, April 18, as they host the Southern Wesleyan Warriors for Senior Day. First pitch is scheduled for 2 P.M. with Senior Day festivities to precede the action.

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