DUNCAN, S.C. - The Converse Softball team ended their home slate with a twinbill loss to King Tornado, 8-7 and 12-0(5) in Conference Carolinas action on Thursday afternoon at Tyger River Park.
THE BASICS
FINAL | Game One: Converse 7, King 8 | Game Two: Converse 0, King 12 (Five Innings)
LOCATION | Duncan, S.C. (Tyger River Stadium)
RECORDS | Converse 5-31 (3-17), King 31-17 (15-5)
INSIDE THE BOXSCORES
Mckayla Davis went 2-2 with a RBI and a walk in the first game. Elizabeth Aguilar picked up two hits and two RBI. Anna Bennett, Shelby Bullock and Marissa Steadman added a RBI as well.
Marissa Steadman pitched a no decision in game one all seven runs (four earned) in 6.2 innings.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Game One: Converse 7, King 8
Converse batted around in the first inning of game one scoring five runs. Elizabeth Aguilar started the rally with a lead-off single to right field. Tristan Harvey pushed a bunt through the left side. Brett Harvey loaded the bases with a base hit.
Anna Bennett reached on an infield single giving the Valkyries a 1-0 lead. Mckayla Davis singled to right center scoring two on a throwing error to extend the lead to 3-0.
Shelby Bullock singled up the middle with two outs to score Bennett. Marissa Steadman bunted her way on in no-mans land to give the Valkyries a 5-0 lead.
King found their way on the scoreboard in the top of the second to cut into the deficit 5-2 thanks to a Converse error.
Both teams matched each other through the middle innings until Converse pushed across two runs in the bottom of the sixth. After a walk and a single, Elizabeth Aguilar doubled down the left field line to push the Valkyries advantage to 7-2.
The Tornado fought off the ropes in the top of the seventh to take the lead 8-7. King picked up two hits with one out before a throwing error allowed the first run to score in the inning.
With the score 7-5 and two outs, Shelby Bullock made a diving attempt in the gap but the ground caused the ball to come out of her glove to keep the inning going. A throwing error by the pitcher allowed King to tie things at 7-all. A double to left scored the eventual winning run, 8-7.
Game Two: Converse 0, King 12
King scored a run in the top of the first of the nightcap. After an infield single, King swiped second and advanced to third on a throwing miscue. A single to the outfield scored the first run of the contest.
Tristan Harvey laid down a bunt and reached second on a throwing miscue. Harvey would move to third on a ground out but would be stranded to end the inning.
The Tornado found the bats in the top of the second to take an 8-0 lead. King posted three straight hits and a hit-by-pitch to score the first run of the inning. Two more hits pushed across three more runs. King used seven hits in the inning to extend their lead to 8-0.
King tacked on two more runs in the top of the third on two hits and two Converse errors to lead 10-0. The Tornado would add two more in the top of the fifth on sacrifice flys to take the contest 12-0.
UP NEXT
Converse wraps up their 2017 campaign with a doubleheader at Limestone on Saturday, April 22. First pitch is at 2pm.