Elkins, W.Va. — Charleston split a conference doubleheader on the road at Davis & Elkins, taking game one in dominant fashion before falling in game two.
GAME 1
The Basics
Location: Elkins, W.Va.
Score: Charleston 8, Davis & Elkins 1
Records: Charleston 29-10 (13-2 MEC), Davis & Elkins 10-26 (5-7 MEC)
How It Happened:
Charleston wasted no time getting on the board in the opening inning. Ella Zucchero reached to start the game and advanced into scoring position before Danielle Pici lifted a sacrifice fly to bring home the first run. Moments later, Maddie Entler drove in another run on a groundout, giving Charleston an early 2-0 lead.
Davis & Elkins threatened in the bottom half of the inning, moving a runner to third, but Addison Mass worked out of the jam to keep the Senators off the board and preserve the early momentum.
Charleston broke the game open in the third. After Zucchero reached and Kayla Moran singled, Danielle Pici worked a walk to load the bases. Entler delivered the biggest swing of the day, launching a three-run home run to extend the lead to 5-0.
Mass continued to control the game in the circle, working through multiple innings where Davis & Elkins put runners on base but failed to capitalize, including a bases-loaded situation in the second that resulted in no runs.
Davis & Elkins got on the board in the sixth, capitalizing on an error to plate an unearned run and cut the deficit to 5-1.
Charleston responded immediately in the seventh. With runners on, Taylor Hodson doubled to right field, bringing home two runs. Moran followed with an RBI single to push the lead to 8-1 and put the game out of reach.
Mass closed out the complete game, striking out 13 and allowing just one run to secure the win.
GAME 2
The Basics:
Location: Elkins, W.Va.
Score: Davis & Elkins 3, Charleston 1
Records: Charleston 29-11 (13-3 MEC), Davis & Elkins 11-27 (6-8 MEC)
How It Happened:
Game two opened as a pitcher's duel, with both teams held scoreless through the first three innings.
Charleston broke through in the fourth when Taylor Hodson delivered a solo home run to give the Golden Eagles a 1-0 lead.
Davis & Elkins answered in the fifth. After a walk and a sacrifice advanced the runner, the Senators tied the game on a sacrifice play to make it 1-1.
The game shifted in the sixth inning. A leadoff baserunner reached before Davis & Elkins took advantage of a Charleston error, allowing the go-ahead run to score. Later in the inning, a double to left field brought home another run, extending the lead to 3-1.
Charleston threatened in the seventh after a leadoff double put a runner in scoring position, but Davis & Elkins worked out of the inning to hold the lead and secure the split.
Up Next:
Charleston returns to action on April 12 with a conference doubleheader at West Virginia Wesleyan in Buckhannon, W.Va. First pitch is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. with game two set for 3:00 p.m.
