Converse Picks Up Program's First Wins In Sweep Of St. Andrews

Converse Picks Up Program's First Wins In Sweep Of St. Andrews

DUNCAN, S.C.- In the program's first ever home doubleheader, the Converse Softball program picked up a doubleheader sweep in thrilling fashion against St. Andrews on Saturday afternoon at Tyger River.  The Valkyries won 5-4 in game one and 6-5 in game two.

Bri Putnam (Chesnee, S.C.) was the hero in both games producing walk-off singles to win it for the Valkyries.  Putnam finished with three RBI.  Savanna Fain (Inman, S.C.) and Tristan Harvey (Anacoco, La.) tallied two RBI apiece.  Marissa Steadman (Roebuck, S.C.) picked up her first wins of her collegiate career.

Converse will head on the road for a doubleheader against Brevard on Thursday, February 18.   First pitch at 2pm.

Game One Converse 5, St. Andrews 4

Anna Bennett (Fulton, Md.) started yet another rally for the Valkyries drawing a lead off walk.  Savanna Fain followed the walk with a base knock into left center.  A sacrifice bunt by Kelsie Land (Keller, Texas) moved the winning run to third.  The Knights intentionally walked Tristan Harvey for a potential play at the play with one out.  Bri Putnam (Chesnee, S.C.) delivered a single to left field to send the Valkyries into the win column for the first time.

Converse (2-4) fell behind early as St. Andrews (0-4) scored three runs in the opening frame all with two outs.

The Valkyries settled in and chipped away at the deficit in the bottom half of the second inning.  Anna Bennett started off the inning with a double off the center field fence.  Savanna Fain drew a walk followed by Kelsie Land moving them into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt.  Tristan Harvey singled into left to score the first run for the Valkyries.

Anna Bennett started another rally for the Valkyries in the bottom of the fourth inning after leading off the inning with a walk.  After a fielding error by the Knights, Bennett moved into scoring position.  T. Harvey would reach on a bunt single to load the bases.  Bri Putnam drove in the second run for Converse with a ground out to second.

Converse would take the first lead of the day in the bottom of the fifth scoring two runs to move out in front 4-3.  Morgan Marlow (Murrells Inlet, S.C.) drew a leadoff walk.  Shelby Bullock (Horseshoe Beach, Fla.) reached on an infield single.  A two out single by S. Fain through the left side of the infield brought Marlow around to score to knot things at 3-3.  K. Land would give the Valkyries a 4-3 lead after reaching on a Knight miscue.

The Knights tied things up in the top of the seventh grabbing a two out run.

Converse would take the first game of the doubleheader with the RBI single by Putnam.

Game Two: Converse 6, St. Andrews 5

T. Harvey started off the bottom of the seventh inning with a lead off walk.  A sacrifice bunt by Makaylah Plemmons (Union County, S.C.) pushed Harvey into scoring position.  Bri Putnam sent a shot up the middle allowing Harvey to come around from second to score the winning run.

St. Andrews started off game two scoring runs in the opening frame to jump out to a 2-0 lead.

Converse responded in the bottom half of the first inning posting three runs to take a 3-2 lead early.  Shelby Bullock started off the rally with a one out walk.  A. Bennett followed suit with a walk to push Bullock into scoring position.  S. Fain posted a RBI single down the right field line scoring Bullock.  K. Land drew a walk to load the bases.  Another Valkyrie walk produced the second run of the inning with Harvey drawing the walk.  Morgan Marlow drew the fifth walk of the inning to give Converse a 3-2 lead.

The Valkyries extended their lead to 5-2 in the bottom of the second inning scoring two more runs.  S. Bullock drew a walk to start the rally. Bennett reached on a throwing miscue and moving around to third and allowing Bullock to come around to score.  S. Fain would draw a walk and swipe second before K. Land singled through the left side for the RBI single.

St. Andrews added a run in the fifth and two runs in the sixth to knot things at 5-5.

Converse would push across the winning run with two outs with a RBI single by Putnam scoring Harvey.