AUBURNDALE, Fla. – Davis & Elkins College dropped a 5-2 decision to Shorter University on Friday morning at Lake Myrtle Park as part of the RussMatt Invitational.

The Senators (1-8) struck first with a two-run third inning, but Shorter (15-6) responded with four unanswered runs across the next two frames to take control of the game. The Hawks added an insurance run in the sixth and relied on strong pitching to close out the contest.

D&E plated both of its runs in the third when Joseph De La Nuez delivered an RBI single following a lead-off walk and stolen base from Kyle Thomas. De La Nuez played heads-up ball on the base paths, as he was able to steal third, and then score on an error by the Shorter catcher. That momentum was short-lived as Shorter capitalized on a pair of walks and a hit-by-pitch in the bottom half of the frame, tying the game at 2-2 with a two-run single.

The Hawks pulled ahead in the fourth on an RBI groundout and a sacrifice fly, then extended their lead to 5-2 in the sixth with a bases-loaded walk.

D&E starter Isaac Lane (0-2) took the loss, allowing four runs on four hits in 3.1 innings while striking out four. Reliever Chase George worked 3 innings of one-run ball with one strikeout, while Diego Reyes and Kyle Ball each pitched an inning, each recording a strikeout while only allowing one hit.

D&E totaled seven hits, led by De La Nuez and Grant Mealey, who each finished with two. The Senators struggled with runners in scoring position, leaving eight men on base.

Up Next

D&E returns to action on Saturday, March 8, for their final game in the RussMatt Invitational, taking on the University of Minnesota, Crookston at 10:00 a.m.