WEST LIBERTY, W.Va. — Davis & Elkins College used clutch hitting and strong pitching to sweep Saturday's Mountain East Conference softball doubleheader against West Liberty, winning 2-1 in the opener before rallying for an 8-5 victory in Game 2 at the WLU Softball Complex.

In Game 1, senior Lina Gutierrez went 3-for-3 with a double, a triple, a walk, and an RBI to lead the Senators. Her triple in the fifth inning helped spark the scoring, and Ashlyn Zapach followed with an RBI double to drive her in. Freshman Madison Smith added a hit and scored the game-winning run in the seventh.

Sophomore Sammie Jarvis tossed a complete game, allowing one run on six hits with three strikeouts and three walks to improve to 9-2 on the season. Zapach went 2-for-4 with an RBI, while Lilly Saucedo and Cortney Dobbs each recorded a hit in the win.

In the nightcap, D&E erupted for seven runs in the sixth inning to erase a two-run deficit and secure the sweep. Zapach once again provided the key hit with a three-run double, finishing 2-for-4 with three RBIs. Allard contributed a hit, an RBI and a run, and freshman Meg Henkle added two walks and an RBI. Audrey Higgins and Jules Gutierrez each scored twice.

Senior Saylor Kneeland pitched a complete game to earn her ninth win, surrendering just one earned run on nine hits while striking out four.

With the sweep, the Senators improved to 19-23 overall and 12-7 in MEC play.

Up Next 

The Senators take on Wheeling in a MEC doubleheader on Sunday, April 13 at noon in Wheeling, W. Va.