Fayetteville, NC – Fayetteville State softball improved to 3-1 overall on the season with identical 5-3 doubleheader wins over Converse College at the Lamon Street Park in Fayetteville, NC on Sunday (Feb. 9) afternoon.
 
The Broncos had a four-run sixth inning in the first of the twin-bill to overcome a 3-1 deficit for the first victory. M'Smrya Seward started the rally with a single through the pitcher and landed on third after stealing two bases.  Lana Reed singled to left field to bring home Seward.
 
With two outs and bases loaded, Mikayla Jackson singled through the third baseman, which allowed a run and an error by the left fielder on Cheyene Ingram at bat allowed two runs for the victory.
 
Braynka Brown (2-0) was the winning pitcher and also went 2-for-3 at the plate along with Cameron McCutchen.
 
Fayetteville State jumped ahead 3-0 in the second game after two innings.
 
Mallory Carpenter hit a sacrifice fly into right field for the first run while McCutchen hit an RBI single up the middle. Jackson stole home for the third run.
 
Converse scored two runs in the fourth inning and tied the game in the top of the sixth from a throwing error on a fielder's choice.
 
In the bottom of the sixth, in almost in the same fashion as the win against Bluefield State, Rylie Williams knocked a double to left field for the go ahead 5-3 lead with two runners scoring. Williams finished 2-for-4 at bat with the two RBIs.
 
In the top of the seventh, the Broncos defense grounded out the first two batters before the Valkyries hit a double to left.
 
Carpenter picked up the final grounder to secure the victory.
 
Ashlyn Zook (1-1) was the winning pitcher. She went the distance, struck out two, allowed five hits and no earned runs.
 
Fayetteville State will travel to UNC Pembroke on Thursday, February 11 and Allen (Columbia, SC) on Saturday (Feb. 15) before returning home on Sunday (Feb. 16) to host Davis & Elkins at 1 & 3 pm. All games will be doubleheaders.