SALEM, Va. — Davis & Elkins College softball suffered a heartbreaking 4-2 extra-innings loss to West Liberty on Wednesday afternoon in the opening game of the Mountain East Conference Championship tournament at the James I. Moyer Sports Complex.

With the game tied 2-2 in the bottom of the eighth, West Liberty launched a walk-off two-run home run over the left-field fence to send the Hilltoppers to the winner's bracket. The No. 3S Senators (27-27) will now face Wheeling University, the No. 4 seed from the North Division, in an elimination game Thursday at 2:30 p.m. Should D&E win, they would play again at 5:00 p.m.

Sophomore Sammie Jarvis went the distance in the circle for D&E, striking out eight over 7.1 innings while scattering five hits. She allowed just two runs through the first seven frames before the game-winner. It was another solid outing for the All-MEC pitcher, but the team wasn't able to pounce on key offensive opportunities.

The Senators struck first in the third inning on a two-out RBI single by left-fielder Alyssa Haynes, and later tied the game 2-2 in the fifth. D&E loaded the bases in the eighth but failed to capitalize, leaving 10 runners stranded in the contest.

Lina Gutierrez led the Senators with a 2-for-4 day at the plate, while catcher Gweny Wessling added a hit and scored a run.

The MEC Softball Championship uses a double-elimination format, and D&E will need to win twice Thursday to stay alive in the tournament.

MEC Championship Central