AUGUSTA, Ga. – The Converse College (5-19) softball team dropped a pair of games to non-conference opponent Augusta on Sunday afternoon. Converse could not hold an early lead in game one, falling 7-2 before dropping the nightcap by the final of 2-0.
GAME ONE: CONVERSE 2, AUGUSTA 7
Gabrielle Cuevas put the Valkyries ahead early, roping a double down the right field line to allow Marissa Martin to touch the plate. Martin led the frame off with a single to right field before moving to second on a beautifully-placed sacrifice bunt from Hailey Spitler. Cuevas scored the second run of the inning for the Valkyries, capitalizing on an errant throw by the Jags first baseman.
Augusta was able to tie the game at 2-2 after scoring single runs in the first and third innings. Converse went quietly in the fourth and fifth frames and Augusta took advantage of that with a big 5-run fifth inning. The Jags collected four doubles in the frame to take control of the contest.
Converse was sat down in order over the final two innings and Augusta took game one of the doubleheader, 7-2.
GAME TWO: CONVERSE 0, AUGUSTA 2
Game two was a defensive battle. Augusta pushed across two runs in the bottom of the first, but from that point Martin settled into the starting pitcher role, not allowing the Jags to add anything to the their lead.
The Valkyries made things interesting in the top of the seventh after bringing the tying run to the plate. Cuevas started the frame off with a single to first base and advanced to second on the play. A Meredith Quarles groundout moved Cuevas to third, but the next two batters were retired in order to keep the Vals off the board and give Augusta the 2-0 win in game two.
Martin pitched a phenomenal game, allowing just two runs over 7.0 innings, while striking out five.
Converse will return to the friendly confines of Tyger River Park on Thursday, March 14, playing host to Mars Hill University in a non-conference doubleheader. Game one is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m.