ORANGEBURG, S.C. – The Valkyries softball team earned a split with Claflin on Saturday afternoon. Converse took game one in extra innings by the final of 5-3 before falling 10-2 in the nightcap.
GAME ONE: CONVERSE 5, CLAFLIN 3 (8 INNINGS)
Following a scoreless inning for both teams, Converse broke through with a single run in the top of the second. Allison Plafcan started the inning with a walk, but the Claflin defense quickly turned two outs, threatening to hold the Valkyries off the board. However, Hailey Spitler came up with a two-out RBI single, scoring Courtney Walls.
That lead extended to 2-0 in the third. With two outs Marissa Martin singled to left field before moving to second on a Gabrielle Cuevas walk. Plafcan connected on a double to center field that allowed Martin to touch the plate. Cuevas tallied an RBI in the top of the fifth to give Converse a comfortable 3-0 lead.
The Valkyries looked poised to take game one, but Claflin scored three times in the bottom of the seventh to send the game into extra innings. Brooklyn McElrath was placed on second to start the frame and scored easily on a Cuevas triple to right field. A passed ball allowed Cuevas to touch the plate during the at-bat, giving Converse a 5-3 lead heading into the bottom of the eighth. Claflin put the tying runs on second and third, but a lazy flyout ended the threat and gave the Vals the game one win.
GAME TWO: CONVERSE 2, CLAFLIN 10 (6 INNINGS)
Claflin struck first in the second game of the twin-billing, posting one run in the bottom of the first. However, Converse came right back with a run of its own in the second to knot the contest. Meredith Quarles and Spitler collected back-to-back hits after the first two batters were retired. Quarles then stole third and scored on an error.
Claflin regained the lead with a three-spot in the bottom of the second, but Converse cut the deficit in half following a Spitler RBI double in the top of the fourth. Unfortunately, that would be the last time Converse touched the plate, while Claflin totaled six runs over the fifth and sixth innings to earn the 10-2, run-rule win.
Converse will be back in action on Tuesday, March 5, traveling to face the Cavaliers of Montreat College. That contest is scheduled to begin at 3 p.m.