INSTITUTE, W.Va. – The Davis & Elkins College softball team traveled to Institute, West Virginia on Monday to play West Virginia State University in a doubleheader. D&E was able to win a narrow game one by 2-1, but dropped game two 9-4 as they split the day with the Yellow Jackets.
In Game one, strong pitching from both teams made hitting difficult and scoring low. Maddie Lavelle notched a single up the middle and brought in Linzey Allard during the fourth inning to give D&E the lead 1-0. WVSU came straight back with a single and a run of their own in the fifth to tie the game one run apiece. Allard came in clutch with a single in the seventh inning to bring home Sharon Morales and gave the Senator's a narrow 2-1 lead. It was over to senior pitcher Jenna Evans to see out the bottom of the seventh and secure the win for her team. She did just that, not giving up one hit in the final innings and clinching the win for her team. Evans was at the mound for all seven innings, only allowing three hits, one run and striking out five.
Game two saw another early lead for the Senators. When Kailyn Parks doubled to left-center and brought home Mia Mendoza, then scored unearned herself the score read 2-0 in favor of D&E. The Yellow Jackets fought back in the third and fourth innings. Strong hitting saw them pull away from D&E and they took a 6-2 lead into the fifth. It looked like the Senators were going to mount a comeback when Lavelle doubled to left center bringing home Honesty Holt and Allard to narrow the gap. But more runs from WVSU in the sixth put them out of sight and they took game two 9-4.
CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Day two on the road saw a doubleheader against the University of Charleston on Tuesday. During game one, the Senators struggled with their hitting and after a strong UC fifth inning, dropped the game 8-0. D&E was able to keep the game close until the bottom of the fifth with the score reading 1-0 Golden Eagles. A strong fifth and sixth inning finished the game after six and UC took it 8-0. Kailyn Parks notched D&E's only hit as she went 1-3 at the plate. Jenna Evans pitched the majority of the game, and despite allowing six runs only gave up three hits during her time in the circle.
In the second game, deep into the afternoon the Senators held Charleston scoreless, the final score was 1-0. D&E took the lead in the sixth inning after a clutch homer by Linzey Allard to open the inning. Freshman pitcher Shelby Hile was a rock on the mound, with the bases loaded in the bottom of the sixth, she struck out UC's final hitter of the inning to keep the advantage in game two in her teams favor. With another strong inning in the seventh, she secured the victory for D&E 1-0. Statistics were not available for game two in Charleston.
Coach Elle Fracker's team returns to Elkins with a 2-2 record on the trip.
They move to 15-20 overall and 11-5 in the Mountain East Conference.
Next up is a short trip to Buckhannon, W.Va. for a doubleheader against West Virginia Wesleyan on Wednesday, April 13th. Game one is scheduled to begin at 4pm.
