ELKINS, W.Va. — Davis & Elkins and West Liberty split a Mountain East Conference doubleheader Saturday afternoon at Harpertown Field, with the Hilltoppers taking the opener 2-0 before the Senators answered with a 9-8 comeback win in game two.

Game One: West Liberty 2, Davis & Elkins 0
West Liberty used timely hitting and a strong outing on the mound to take the opening game of Saturday's doubleheader, defeating Davis & Elkins 2-0.

The Hilltoppers got on the board in the second inning when Austin Wittreich delivered an RBI single that brought home Luke Foley to make it 1-0. West Liberty added another run in the fourth inning as Wittreich recorded a sacrifice fly to center field, again scoring Foley for a 2-0 advantage.

That would be all the offense West Liberty needed behind a complete-game performance from John Thompson, who scattered six hits across seven innings while striking out six and allowing just one walk.

Davis & Elkins managed six hits in the contest, with Kenny Capria, Zach Calef-Boring, Carsan Strolla, Joel Wise, Tyler Mendoza and Dylan Leadbetter each collecting one. Calef-Boring recorded the lone extra-base hit for the Senators with a double.

Cooper Blackburn took the loss despite a solid outing on the mound for D&E. The right-hander pitched all seven innings, allowing two runs on seven hits while striking out five.

Game Two: Davis & Elkins 9, West Liberty 8
Davis & Elkins erupted for nine runs in the fourth inning and held off a late West Liberty rally to secure a 9-8 victory in game two and salvage the doubleheader split.

West Liberty built an early lead, plating one run in the first before a three-run home run by Lucas Marsh in the second pushed the Hilltoppers ahead 4-0. The visitors added another run in the fourth to extend the lead to 5-0.

The Senators answered in a big way in the bottom half of the inning.

Joel Wise started the rally with a sacrifice fly that scored Carsan Strolla. Nate Silvus followed with an RBI single, and Tyler Mendoza later crossed the plate to cut the deficit to 5-3.

Zach Calef-Boring then delivered the biggest hit of the inning, ripping a three-run double to right field to give the Senators a 6-5 lead. Calef-Boring would later score on a wild pitch before Grant Mealey capped the nine-run frame with a two-run home run, putting D&E ahead 9-5.

West Liberty continued to push late, scoring once in the fifth and adding two more runs in the sixth to pull within 9-8, but the Senators bullpen shut the door the rest of the way.

Collin Schneider earned the save after tossing 1.1 scoreless innings to close out the game.

Calef-Boring led the offense with two hits and three RBIs, while Mealey went 2-for-2 with a home run and two RBIs. Silvus added two hits and an RBI, and Strolla scored twice.

Diego Reyes started on the mound for D&E, allowing six runs (five earned) over five innings with four strikeouts. Carson Gorby, Cade Walters and Schneider combined in relief to finish the game.

Up Next
Davis & Elkins returns to action Sunday, March 22, when the Senators host Wheeling for another Mountain East Conference doubleheader at Harpertown Field. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m., with game two set for 3:30 p.m.