WILSON, N.C. – The Barton softball team (21-25, 8-16) split a Conference Carolinas doubleheader with Converse (11-33, 7-15) Saturday afternoon on Senior Day at Jeffries Field. The Valkyries won the first contest by a 7-3 while the Bulldogs prevailed in the nightcap, 1-0.
Game One – Converse 7, Barton 3
Converse used a five-run fourth inning including two-run singles from Kiarra Thomas (Blythewood, S.C.) and Madison Davis (Port Saint Lucie, Fla.) to take control on its way to the win.
The Valkyries' Gracee Stucki (St. George, Utah) (8-15) pitched nearly four innings of scoreless ball in relief to pick up the win while Natasha Fife (Peachtree City, Ga.), the starter, registered the final out to earn the save.
Barton sophomore
Emily Bobo (Mount Ephraim, N.J.) (9-11) was tagged with the loss while senior outfielder
Makenzie Cyzick (Dayton, Va.) went three-for-three with an RBI double in the setback.
Game Two – Barton 1, Converse 0
Barton freshman
Haley Inman (Stokesdale, N.C.) (10-11) scattered seven hits while striking out four batters in the complete game shutout
Barton senior second baseman
Madison Mercer (Wilson, N.C.) drove in the lone run with a double in the bottom of the sixth inning – scoring Cyzick – as the Bulldogs salvaged the split.
Thomas (0-7) took the loss for the Valkyries despite allowing one run. Inman has thrown 19 consecutive scoreless innings.
Barton hits the road to take on UNC Pembroke next Saturday, April 18, beginning at 1:00 p.m., while Converse plays Chowan on Sunday starting at 2:00 p.m., in Murfreesboro, N.C.
