HICKORY, N.C. – The Davis & Elkins softball team faced a tough slate of games over the weekend, battling through matchups against Belmont Abbey, Lenoir-Rhyne, and Flagler. Despite flashes of strong offensive performances and solid defensive efforts, the Senators came up short in all four contests.

Friday, Feb. 8

#4 Lenoir-Rhyne 4, Davis & Elkins 3
The Senators opened the weekend with a hard-fought 4-3 loss to nationally-ranked Lenoir-Rhyne. Davis & Elkins took an early lead with a first-inning run and rallied for two more in the seventh, but the late push wasn't enough.

Lina Gutierrez led the offense with two hits and a run scored. Ashlyn Zapach delivered a two-run home run, while Lilly Saucedo added a double and an RBI. Sammie Jarvis pitched six innings, allowing four earned runs while striking out four.

Davis & Elkins 14, Belmont Abbey 15
In an offensive slugfest, D&E came up just short against Belmont Abbey, falling 15-14 in a game that featured 31 total runs. The Senators put up eight runs in the sixth inning to take the lead but couldn't hold off a late surge.

Lina Gutierrez had a huge game, going 3-for-5 with a triple, a home run, and three RBIs. Linzey Allard also homered, drove in two runs, and stole two bases. Ashlyn Zapach contributed a three-run blast, while Jules Gutierrez tallied three hits. As a team, D&E collected 17 hits and 13 RBIs.

Saturday, Feb. 9

Flagler 21, Davis & Elkins 2
The Senators struggled defensively against a powerful Flagler lineup, allowing 21 runs. Linzey Allard drove in a run with a double, while Ashlyn Zapach recorded an RBI on a fielder's choice.

Lenoir-Rhyne 11, Davis & Elkins 1
D&E wrapped up the weekend with an 11-1 loss to Lenoir-Rhyne in five innings. Lina Gutierrez had both of the Senators' hits and stole a base. Ashlyn Zapach drove in the team's lone run with a sacrifice fly.

Up Next

The Senators look to bounce back at the LMU Invitational this weekend, February 15-16, in Harrogate, Tennessee, hosted by Lincoln Memorial University.