SPARTANBURG, S.C.- The Converse Softball team picked up a non-conference split against Columbia on Saturday afternoon. Converse won game one 3-2 before falling in game two 4-2.
The Valkyries move to 3-9 on the season while Columbia moves to 7-5.
Maddison Lukens (Chandler, Ariz.) paced the Valkyries with four hits in the doubleheader going 3-4 in the nightcap. Bri Putnam (Chesnee, S.C.), Savanna Fain (Inman, S.C.) and Tristan Harvey (Anacoco, La.) picked up two hits apiece.
Putnam posted the program's first ever triple in the third inning of game two.
Marissa Steadman (Roebuck, S.C.) picked up the win in game one pitching the complete game.
Converse opens up the Conference Carolinas slate next weekend, March 5 against Lees-McRae. First pitch is at 1pm.
Game One: Converse 3, Columbia 2
Converse got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the second inning. Tristan Harvey reached on a throwing error and moved around to second. Bri Putnam would bring Harvey around to score on a single to right center for the early 1-0 lead.
Columbia would knot things at 1-all in the top of the fifth after a Valkyrie miscue and bring the Koala runner around on the single.
Converse would take the lead again in the bottom of the sixth posting two runs in the inning. Makaylah Plemmons (Union County, S.C.) started off the inning reaching on a fielding error. Kelsie Land (Keller, Texas) pushed Plemmons into scoring position on a bunt. Morgan Marlow (Murrells Inlet, S.C.) pushed the Valkyrie runners up 60 feet with a sacrifice bunt. Tristan Harvey singled down the left field line scoring Plemmons. Bri Putnam would push across the final run with a sacrifice fly to right to score Land for the 3-1 advantage.
Columbia would tally another run in the top of the seventh with a solo home run. The Koalas would push the tying run to third but a strikeout and a pop up ended the rally and gave the Valkyries the 3-2 win.
Game Two: Converse 2, Columbia 4
Columbia jumped on the board in the top of the first inning scoring a run. The Koalas picked up a two out single before coming around to score on the following RBI single through the left side.
Converse responded in the bottom of the third inning when Bri Putnam sparked the Valkyrie rally with the program's first triple to lead off the inning. Maddy Lukens singled to right center to tie things at 1-1. On the ensuing sacrifice bunt, Lukens was aggressive and moved to third winning the run down. An illegal pitch allowed Lukens to walk in to give the Valkyries the 2-1 lead early.
Columbia countered with three runs off three hits and two Valkyries errors to take the 4-2 lead. Converse couldn't string together enough hits to scratch across any more runs.