DUNCAN, S.C. – The opening day of the 2026 Conference Carolinas Softball Championship was highlighted by upsets from Converse University and the University of Mount Olive. Both won play-in games and followed that with wins to move into the winner's bracket.

No. 9 King def. No. 8 Belmont Abbey, 5-0
King jumped ahead with a pair of runs in the second inning and three more in the third inning. Aviah Bunsic came up with a two-run double in the third inning for the Tornado. Kaylee Meeks tossed all seven innings in the circle for King, allowing only five hits and striking out six.

No. 7 Mount Olive def. No. 10 Barton, 5-2
Mount Olive plated three runs in the second inning and added two on a Brianna Verme two-run single in the fifth inning. Barton scored a pair in the sixth, but that was all Alex Steen allowed as she finished the contest with nine strikeouts in seven innings for Mount Olive. The Trojans took the contest 5-2.

No. 12 Converse def. No. 5 UNC Pembroke, 5-3
Converse wasted no time getting on the board, scoring three runs in the second inning on three run-scoring singles. UNC Pembroke cut into the deficit on a two-run single from Emma Wrenn in the fifth inning. However, the Valkyries added two runs in the seventh inning to take a 5-2 lead. The Braves tacked on one run in the seventh, but that was all Gracee Stucki allowed, giving Converse the 5-3 win. Stucki allowed only one earned run on six hits for Converse.

No. 6 Chowan def. No. 11 Erskine, 5-4 (F/8)
Erskine jumped ahead with a pair of runs in the first, one on an infield single and another on a hit by pitch. Chowan cut the deficit in half in the fourth inning and evened the score in the sixth on a Julianna Kellogg single. However, Gabby Burroughs gave Erskine a 4-2 lead with a two-out, two-run double in the top of the seventh inning. In the bottom of the inning, Chowan scored a pair of runs, sending the contest to extra innings.

In the extra frame. Chowan's Hope Soria drove in Blair Ellott to give Chowan the 5-4 win. Soria and Calliope James led Chowan with two hits apiece.

No. 1 Francis Marion def. No. 9 King 11-5
Mckenzie Jewell put Francis Marion on top with a two-run double in the first inning. The Patriots added three runs in the second, two on a single from Jenna Walling. King responded with four runs in the third inning, two on a double from Yuleesa Kennedy double, pulling the Tornado within 5-4.

The Patriots added one run in each of the next two innings before scoring two runs in each the fifth and sixth innings to take the contest 11-5.

Walling posted two hits, including a home run and drove in three while tossing all seven innings in the circle for Francis Marion. Kennedy drove in three on two hits for the Tornado.

No. 7 Mount Olive def. No. 2 Young Harris, 15-3
Young Harris jumped ahead with three runs in the second inning, but Mount Olive came back with 11 runs in the third inning. Emma King laced a two-run double and Hadley Womack ripped a three-run triple to highlight the frame. The Trojans added one run in the fourth and three in the fifth to take the contest 15-3.

No. 12 Converse def. No. 4 North Greenville, 3-2
Converse grabbed the lead in the third inning as Tyler Karabach ripped a two-run double, giving the Valkyries a 2-0 lead. North Greenville evened the score in the sixth in a two-out, two-run single from Emily Blackwell. However, the Valkyries regained the lead on a Karlie Gibson sacrifice fly in the top of the seventh. That was all Gracee Stucki needed as she allowed only the two runs on seven hits in seven innings.

No. 3 Southern Wesleyan def. No. 6 Chowan, 4-3
Southern Wesleyan wasted no time getting on the board as Marissa Moreland ripped a leadoff home run in the first inning. The Warriors added three in the fourth, two coming on a single from Moreland. However, Chowan cut into the deficit to pull within 4-3 after scoring three runs in the fifth inning. Olivia Haag made the score hold up as she finished the game in the circle. She allowed one earned run on six hits in seven innings.
 

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2026 Conference Carolinas Softball Championship
Tyger River Park | Duncan, South Carolina

Play-in Round – Thursday, April 23
Game 1: No. 9 King def. No. 8 Belmont Abbey, 5-0 BOX SCORE
Game 2: No. 7 Mount Olive def. No. 10 Barton, 5-2 BOX SCORE
Game 3: No. 12 Converse def. No. 5 UNC Pembroke, 5-3 BOX SCORE
Game 4: No. 6 Chowan vs. No. 11 Erskine, 5-4 (F/8) BOX SCORE

First Round - Thursday, April 23
Game 5: No. 1 Francis Marion def. No. 9 King, 11-5 BOX SCORE
Game 6: No. 7 Mount Olive def. No. 2 Young Harris, 15-3 BOX SCORE
Game 7: No. 12 Converse def. No. 4 North Greenville, 3-2 BOX SCORE
Game 8: No. 3 Southern Wesleyan def. No. 6 Chowan, 4-3 BOX SCORE

Second Round - Friday, April 24
Game 9: No. 1 Francis Marion vs. No. 12 Converse, 12:00 p.m. (Field 1)
Game 10: No. 7 Mount Olive vs. No. 3 Southern Wesleyan, 12:00 p.m. (Field 4)
Game 11: No. 6 Chowan vs. No. 9 King, 2:30 p.m. (Field 1)
Game 12: No. 2 Young Harris vs. No. 4 North Greenville, 2:30 p.m. (Field 4)
Game 13: Loser Game 9 vs. Winner Game 11, 5:00 p.m. (Field 1)
Game 14: Loser Game 10 vs. Winner Game 12, 5:00 p.m. (Field 4)

Semifinal Round - Saturday, April 25
Game 15: Winner Game 9 vs. Winner Game 10, 12:00 p.m. (Field 1)
Game 16: Winner Game 13 vs. Winner Game 14, 2:30 p.m. (Field 1)
Game 17: Loser Game 15 vs. Winner Game 16, 5:00 p.m. (Field 1)

Championship - Sunday, April 26
Game 18: Winner Game 16 vs. Winner Game 17, 12:00 p.m. (Field 1)
Game 19: Winner Game 17 vs. Loser Game 18, 2:30 p.m. (Field 1; If Necessary)