LAURINBURG, N.C. - The Converse Softball team earned the doubleheader sweep against St. Andrews in non-conference action on Saturday afternoon. The Valkyries picked up the win in the first game 6-1 and earning the 6-5 extra innings victory in the nightcap.
THE BASICS
FINAL | Game One: Converse 6, St. Andrews 1 | Game Two: Converse 6, St. Andrews 5 (8)
LOCATION | Laurinburg, N.C. (Knights Field)
RECORDS | Converse 2-12, St. Andrews 8-14
INSIDE THE BOXSCORES
Elizabeth Aguilar led the Valkyries at the plate picking up four hits in the twinbill. Augilar went 3-4 in the first contest, while picking up the program's second ever home run in the night cap.
Tristan Harvey went picked up three hits. Harvey scored four runs. Marissa Steadman also recorded four runs.
Anna Bennett recorded three hits in the win. Elizabeth Aguilar and Brett Harvey posted two RBI in the sweep.
Kaybriana Spalding picked up her first complete game victory in the early game pitching 7.0 innings allowing one run off six hits.
Marissa Steadman earned the complete game victory in the night cap pitching 8.0 innings allowing five runs off nine hits. Steadman posted six punchouts.
Converse forced St. Andrews to commit nine errors in the field while only recording one.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Game One: Converse 6, St. Andrews 1
Converse picked up a hit in the top of the first by Elizabeth Aguilar but was turned away to start the game.
Kaybriana Spalding ran into trouble in the bottom of the first hitting the first batter. Spalding allowed another base runner in the inning but escaped the jam without allowing a run.
The Valkyries would break the scoreless tie in the top of the third inning to take a 1-0 lead. Marissa Steadman reached on a bunt single and advanced to third on the Knights' miscues. Tristan Harvey reached on an infield single to bring in the first run of the contest.
Converse would add two more runs in the fifth inning to lead 3-0. Marissa Steadman started off the rally by getting hit by a pitch. Tristan Harvey singled to left followed by a RBI single by Elizabeth Aguilar kept the inning going.
Ashton Coker grounded out allowing Tristan Harvey to score on a gutsy play from third for the 3-0 lead.
In the sixth inning, St. Andrews would break up the shutout with a solo shot to left to cut the deficit to 3-1.
Converse countered in the top of the seventh with three more runs to lead 6-1. Tristan Harvey singled to left to start the inning. Elizabeth Aguilar would double to left followed by Ashton Coker drawing a walk to load the bases. Brett Harvey singled to left bringing around T. Harvey and Aguilar to score. Bri Putnam singled to right to bring in Coker for the final run of the contest.
The Valkyries posted a season-high 12 hits in the contest.
Game Two: Converse 6, St. Andrews 5 (8 innings)
St. Andrews drew first blood in the night cap scoring two runs in the bottom of the first inning.
The Valkyries would get the bats going in the top of the third inning regaining the lead on one hit. With two outs in the inning, Shelby Bullock and Marissa Steadman reached on errors allowing Bullock to score and Steadman ending up at third.
Tristan Harvey scored Steadman from third on another SAU error to tie things at 2-all. Harvey swiped second and would come around to score on the errant throw down for the 3-2 lead. Elizabeth Aguilar continued to make the Knights pay with a solo shot to make it 4-2.
St. Andrews fought back to tie things at 4-all with a run in the fifth and sixth innings.
Neither team scratched across the go-ahead run in the seventh inning. St. Andrews had a chance to push across the winning run in the seventh after loading the bases. A force out at the plate and a huge strikeout to end the inning forced the contest into extras.
Marissa Steadman was placed on second and Tristan Harvey was intentionally walked. Elizabeth Aguilar laid down a sacrifice bunt and reached due to a throwing error plating Steadman from second. Ashton Coker reached on a fielding error allowing another run to cross the plate leading 6-4. Anna Bennett looked to extend the lead but the runner would be thrown out at the plate.
St. Andrews would inch closer in the bottom of the inning scoring one run with the tying run stranded at third with the final out made.
UP NEXT
The Valkyries will face Brevard on Thursday, March 9 at Tyger River Park Stadium in a non-conference doubleheader. First pitch is at 1pm.