Valkyries Softball Face Stiff Competition At Mid-South Classic

Anna Bennett (L), Mckayla Davis (M), Brett Harvey (R)
Anna Bennett (L), Mckayla Davis (M), Brett Harvey (R)

DUNCAN, S.C.- The Converse Softball team battled in the first day of the Mid-South Classic at Tyger River Park on Saturday falling to Augusta 4-2 and UNC Pembroke 12-3.

THE BASICS

FINAL | Game One: Converse 2, Augusta 4 | Game Two: Converse 3, UNC Pembroke 12 (5)

LOCATION | Duncan, S.C. (Tyger River Park)

RECORDS | Converse 0-10 | Augusta 4-13 | UNC Pembroke 11-4

INSIDE THE BOXSCORES

Brett Harvey led the Valkyries with four hits going 4-6 from the plate.  Anna Bennett picked up two doubles and a RBI.  Mckayla Davis went 1-2 with 2 RBI in the second game.

Kaybriana Spalding pitched in the contest against Augusta getting tagged with the loss after pitching 7.0 innings allowing four runs (two earned) off nine hits and picking up five strikeouts.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Game One: Converse 2, Augusta 4

Kaybriana Spalding allowed a lead-off hit to start the contest but set the Jaguars down in order after a punchout looking, a caught stealing, and a flyout.

Marissa Steadman drew a walk in the bottom of the first inning for Converse.  Tristan Harvey sacrificed Steadman over to second.  Elizabeth Aguilar put the Valkyries on the scoreboard after hitting a double off the left field fence for the early 1-0 lead.

Kaybriana Spalding would allow hits in the second and third inning but denied Augusta of any scoring chances.

In the top of the fourth, Augusta produced two runs with two outs after a Converse error to take the lead 2-1.

In the bottom half of the inning, Brett Harvey singled to left field and advanced to second on a fielding error.  Anna Bennett brought Harvey home on a double to the right center gap to knot things at 2-all.

Augusta would scratch across the go-ahead runs in the top of the seventh inning scoring two runs with two outs for the 4-2 win.

Game Two: Converse 3, UNC Pembroke 12 (5)

UNC Pembroke started the contest with a hot stick scoring seven runs on six hits in the top of the first inning.

Marissa Steadman ripped a pitch up the middle for the first hit of the contest for Converse but was turned away in the inning.

The Braves would go down in the top of the second without a fight after a hot first inning.

Converse started to chip away at the deficit in the bottom of the second inning picking up three runs off five hits.

Brett Harvey singled down the left field line to start the inning.  Anna Bennett followed suit with a double down the left field line hitting it off the fence.  Mckayla Davis singled home a pair with a hit to right center to bring the score to 7-2.

Kelsie Land walked followed by a Shelby Bullock single up the middle loaded the bases for the Valkyries with no outs.  Marissa Steadman hit a bloop single to center to score a run, 7-3.

A sharp lineout followed by a double play ended the Valkyries' threat in the second.

UNC Pembroke used another big inning in the top of the fourth to take a 12-3 lead.  The Braves scored five runs on two Converse errors.

Ashton Coker and Brett Harvey picked up base knocks in the bottom of the fifth but was turned away in the inning as the Braves would take the win.

UP NEXT

Converse will finish up the tournament on Sunday, February 26 when the Valkyries play St. Joseph's (Ind.) and Wingate.  The Valkyries play St. Joseph's at 10am followed by Wingate at 2pm.