SALISBURY, N.C. — The Davis & Elkins College softball team dropped a pair of nonconference games Friday against Catawba College and Molloy University in Salisbury, North Carolina.

Game One: Catawba 10, Davis & Elkins 2

Catawba jumped out to an early lead and handed Davis & Elkins a 10-2 loss in five innings at Whitley Field.

The Indians scored three runs in the first inning and added another in the second to build a 4-0 advantage. Davis & Elkins responded in the fourth when Madison Smith doubled to left-center field, driving in Meg Henkle and Lorena Ruiz-Rubio to cut the deficit to 4-2.

Catawba answered immediately with a solo home run in the bottom of the fourth before breaking the game open with five runs in the fifth inning to end the contest via the run rule.

Smith led the Senators offensively, finishing 1-for-2 with two RBIs. Alyssa Haynes and Gweny Wessling each recorded a hit, while Henkle and Ruiz-Rubio scored the team's two runs.

Saylor Kneeland took the loss in the circle, allowing five runs in 3 1/3 innings. Alyssia Munoz worked the final 1 1/3 innings in relief.

Game Two: Molloy 11, Davis & Elkins 7 (9 innings)

In the second game, Davis & Elkins battled back multiple times but fell in a 9-inning marathon, 11-7, to Molloy.

The Senators opened the scoring in the third inning when Ruiz-Rubio reached on a fielder's choice to bring home Madison Smith. Molloy answered with a two-run home run in the fourth to take the lead.

Davis & Elkins regained momentum in the fifth inning, scoring three runs highlighted by a two-run single from Ruiz-Rubio and an RBI groundout by Maisie McDaniel to go in front, 4-3.

After Molloy reclaimed the lead in the sixth, the Senators continued to fight. In the seventh inning, Alyssia Munoz drove in Kendal Tellings with a single, and a wild pitch brought home Ruiz-Rubio to tie the game at 6-6.

Both teams traded runs in the eighth before Molloy plated four runs in the ninth to secure the win.

Ruiz-Rubio paced the D&E offense, going 2-for-5 with three RBIs. Haynes finished 2-for-5 with a double and a run scored, while Wessling added two hits and an RBI. Henkle drew two walks and scored once.

Sammie Jarvis was charged with the loss after throwing 8 1/3 innings, striking out 12. Kneeland pitched the final two-thirds of an inning in relief.

Up Next

Davis & Elkins returns to action Saturday, Feb. 14, with an 11 a.m. matchup at Catawba in Salisbury, North Carolina.