SALEM, Va. — Davis & Elkins College softball battled through a pair of elimination games on Thursday at the Mountain East Conference Softball Championship, defeating Wheeling 2-1 in the afternoon before falling to adversary the University of Charleston 12-6 in the nightcap at the James I. Moyer Sports Complex.

The Senators (28-28), the No. 3 South Division seed, opened the day with a gutsy win over No. 4 North seed Wheeling to stay alive in the bracket. Redshirt senior pitcher Saylor Kneeland went the distance in the circle, scattering six hits and striking out seven while stranding eight Cardinal baserunners.

Trailing 1-0 entering the bottom of the sixth, D&E rallied behind a double from Alyssa Haynes and an RBI single by Ashlyn Zapach, scoring twice to seize a 2-1 lead they would not relinquish. The win set up a third straight postseason meeting with rival and No. 2 South seed Charleston — a team that had edged D&E in each of the past two MEC title games.

In the nightcap, D&E jumped ahead early with four runs in the first two innings. Zapach continued her strong day with a two-run homer, while Haynes added an RBI double. Pinch hitter Meg Henkle later launched a two-run shot in the sixth.

But the Golden Eagles' offense proved too much, erupting for 12 runs on 13 hits, including a go-ahead three-run double and a three-hit outing from T. Hodson. Charleston scored in five consecutive innings to erase the early deficit.

The Senators used four pitchers in the loss, with Jarvis (12-13) taking the decision in relief. Despite collecting seven hits and competing with energy throughout the tournament, D&E's season came to a close in Salem.

The program concludes its 2025 campaign with its third consecutive postseason appearance and multiple all-conference performers, continuing to build momentum under fifth-year head coach Elle Fracker.