SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Erskine College softball team (13-27, 11-15 CC) was defeated by Converse University (13-35, 9-17 CC) in both games of a doubleheader at Tyger River Stadium on Friday afternoon.

THE ESSENTIALS 
Conf. Carolinas Standings | Stats | Scores
Div. II Scores | Record Book | CC Digital Network
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
Game 1: Converse 8-7 Erskine (Final / 11 innings)
On the road for the final time in the 2026 regular season, the Fleet took an early lead thanks to a second-inning home run from Gabby Burroughs and a third-inning RBI single from Gracie Merrill. After Converse got on the board in the bottom half, a Summer Nelsen sacrifice fly and a run-scoring single from Saturday's hero, Amber Clark, made it 4-1 Fleet. However, the Valkyries scored three time in the bottom half of the fourth to tie the game. That 4-4 scoreline held up until the top of the seventh, when a Converse error scored Savannah Koester and Emily Johnson, meaning the Fleet were three outs away from a victory. But, a two-run home run from the hosts in the bottom half sent the game to extra innings. The Fleet had another chance when they regained the lead in the ninth on an RBI single from Hannah Lewis, but again the Valkyries tied the game in the bottom half. Then, in the bottom of the 11th, Converse hit a walk-off single as the Fleet lost a heartbreaker in the opener.

Game 2: Converse 12-11 Erskine
The second game of the day had fireworks as well but in a different way. A Converse error helped the Fleet score the game's first run in the top of the first, but the Valkyries exploded for a seven-run frame in the bottom half, handing the Fleet a sizeable deficit. Erskine tried to chip away, starting with a rare three-RBI single from Gabby Burroughs in the second inning and a third-inning RBI single from Amber Clark. Emily Johnson and Ava Rogers added run-scoring hits of their own in the fourth and fifth innings, respectively, but the Fleet could not slow down the Converse offense in game two and trailed 12-7 after five innings. But, the Fleet stuck with it and made things interesting in the sixth, as Johnson's RBI double got the scoring started in the frame, before she scored on another Converse error. Moments later, Burroughs added to her big day at the plate with a two-run single and suddenly the Fleet were within a run. But, a lineout ended the rally in the sixth and the Fleet were unable to find a run in the seventh, as their furious rally came up just short.

WHAT'S NEXT?
Erskine returns home for a tall test against Young Harris College (29-15, 21-5 CC) on Saturday at 2 p.m. for the Fleet's regular season finale.

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