ANDERSON, S.C. – The Converse (0-4) College softball team dropped a pair of games to Anderson (4-0) University on Tuesday afternoon at the AU Softball Complex. The Valkyries struggled offensively, falling to the Trojans by the scores of 10-0 in five innings and 8-0 in six innings.
GAME ONE: CONVERSE 0, ANDERSON 10 (5 INNINGS)
The Valkyries were only able to muster two hits during the first game of the twin billing. Allison Plafcan and Mckayla Davis tallied one hit each.
Anderson was quick to jump on the scoreboard, posting single runs in the first and second to go along with two more runs in the third. The biggest blow came off the bat of Breanna Hagerty, who blasted a two-run shot to cap the scoring in the first half of the game.
Converse went down in order in the top of the fourth and Anderson blew the game open in the home half of the fourth with six more runs to increase the lead to 10-0. Davis connected on a one-out hit in the top of the fifth, but a strikeout and fielder's choice groundout ended the threat and game one by way of the mercy rule.
Marissa Steadman (0-2) took the loss after tossing just four innings and giving up 10 runs on nine hits, while walking and striking out one each.
GAME TWO: CONVERSE 0, ANDERSON 8 (6 INNINGS)
The second game almost mirrored the first with the only exception being Converse could only collect one hit in the nightcap. Steadman was the contributor once more.
Back-to-back strikeouts and a groundout ended the top of the first for the Valkyries, which lead to the Trojans taking a comfortable 4-0 lead in their half of the first. Mattie Hamilton added a two-run homerun in the four-run frame for Anderson.
Converse pitching settled down following the big first inning, but the offense could not scratch any runs to cut into the deficit. Anderson added a run in the fourth and three more in the sixth to make the final score 8-0 in favor of the home team.
Jena Massing (0-1) was tagged with the loss in game two after allowing eight runs on nine hits, while striking out four batters.
Converse will be back in action on Saturday, February 10 as it faces it second consecutive South Atlantic Conference opponent, Coker. Game one is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m.