HARROGATE, Tenn. – Davis & Elkins College softball opened its Friday tripleheader at the LMU Invitational with a dominant 12-1 victory over Kentucky Wesleyan but was unable to maintain the momentum, dropping its final two games against tournament host Lincoln Memorial University and Wayne State University.
Game 1 vs. Kentucky Wesleyan University
The Senators erupted for eight runs in the top of the first inning, setting the tone early against the Panthers. Davis & Elkins capitalized on timely hitting and patience at the plate, drawing nine walks while tallying nine hits in the win.
Jules Gutierrez led the offensive onslaught, going 3-for-4 with a double and four RBIs, while Alyssa Haynes contributed a two-run double. Trinity Cossette added a triple and drove in two runs. Lina Gutierrez went 1-for-2 with an RBI triple, scored a run, and drew two walks.
On the mound, Saylor Kneeland (2-0) delivered a strong performance, throwing a complete game while allowing just one run on four hits with two strikeouts and one walk over five innings.
Kentucky Wesleyan managed its lone run in the fourth inning, but the deficit proved insurmountable. The Panthers committed two errors, while D&E played solid defense, turning a double play and limiting scoring opportunities.
The Senators tacked on two runs in the fourth and two more in the fifth to secure the run-rule victory.
Game 2 vs. Lincoln Memorial University
D&E followed up their early offensive surge with a hard-fought 4-1 loss to tournament host Lincoln Memorial.
The Senators managed nine hits but struggled to capitalize on scoring opportunities, leaving nine runners stranded. The Railsplitters took control early with two runs in the second inning and added two more in the third to build a 4-1 lead that held for the remainder of the contest.
Lina Gutierrez led the way offensively for D&E, going 3-for-4 with an RBI single that accounted for the Senators' lone run in the second inning. Alyssa Haynes also had a multi-hit game, finishing 2-for-3.
In the circle, Alyssia Munoz threw a complete game, allowing four runs on seven hits while striking out one over six innings of work.
Despite a solid defensive effort, the Senators were unable to generate the late-inning offense needed to mount a comeback.
Game 3 vs. Wayne State
The Senators battled back from an early deficit but could not keep pace with Wayne State's offensive attack, falling 11-6 to conclude Friday's tripleheader.
The Senators found themselves trailing early as Wayne State plated five runs in the first two innings. D&E responded in the fourth with a three-run rally, highlighted by a home run from Ashlyn Zapach and an RBI double from Meg Henkle. However, Wayne State countered with two runs in the fifth and three more in the seventh to put the game out of reach.
Zapach led the Senators at the plate, finishing 2-for-4 with a home run, a double, and an RBI. Henkle added two hits and drove in two runs, while Cortney Dobbs contributed an RBI sac fly.
On the mound, Sammie Jarvis started for D&E, allowing five earned runs over four innings. The Senators' pitching staff combined for five strikeouts but struggled against Wayne State's lineup, which tallied 17 hits, including three extra-base hits.
Up Next
The Senators travel back to Tennessee on Friday, February 21 for a doubleheader with Carson-Newman University starting at 1:00 p.m.
