DUE WEST, S.C. – The Converse College (2-42, 0-14 CC) softball team continued its struggles as it dropped a doubleheader to Erskine College (19-11, 10-0 CC) on Friday afternoon. The Flying Fleet were able to take the twin-billing with final scores of 7-0 and 6-1.
GAME ONE: CONVERSE 0, ERSKINE 7
Erskine took an early 3-0 lead after scoring one in the first and two more in the second, but starting pitcher Marissa Steadman found her control and say the Flying Fleet down quietly over the next two innings to keep the Valkyries in the game.
However, Converse could not muster any offense, failing to cut into the Fleet lead. That proved trouble in the bottom of the fifth when EC blew the game wide open with a four-run frame, racing out to a 7-0 lead.
Converse made noise in the top of the seventh after Mackenzie Wenz doubled with one out and Ashton Coker walked to put runners on first and second with two down. Unfortunately, the next batter was retired and Erskine took game one, 7-0.
GAME TWO: CONVERSE 1, ERSKINE 6
The Fleet tacked on a single run in the bottom of the first, thanks in part to two defensive miscues by the Valkyries gloves. Reagan Davis added an RBI single to account for the lone run, giving EC the early advantage.
That lead ballooned to 5-0 in the bottom of the second after Parker Birch led the frame off with a solo shot before back-to-back hits set up Sydney Smith's three-run homerun to put the Flying Fleet comfortably ahead.
Converse was finally able to break through on the scoreboard, plating a run in the top of the fifth, cutting g the deficit to 5-1. Steadman advanced to second base on a groundout before Wenz stroked a single to score Steadman. After a Coker single put runners on first and third with two outs, the Valkyries looked poised to do more damage, but a strikeout ended the threat and sent the game to the bottom of the sixth with Erskine leading 5-1.
The Fleet got that run back in the bottom of the sixth and Converse was unable to push across anymore runs in the seventh, although it was able to put runners on first and third with two outs, and Erskine earned the sweep with a 6-1 win in game two.
Jena Massind led the way on the afternoon as she went 4-for6 from the dish.
The Valkyries doubleheader against Emmanuel (Ga.) scheduled for tomorrow afternoon was altered due to inclement weather in the Franklin Springs, Ga. area. The two teams will now meet on Tuesday, April 10 at 3 and 5 p.m.