WEST MIFFLIN, Pa. – Davis & Elkins completed the sweep over Point Park on Saturday afternoon at West Mifflin Area High School.
GAME 1: DAVIS & ELKINS 3 – 2 POINT PARK
W: Jarvis (5-10) | L: Johnson (4-9)
Both pitchers were sharp early, holding their opponents scoreless through the first four innings. The Senators broke through in the fifth as Sammie Jarvis reached on a fielding error and advanced to second. She later came around to score on a Gweny Wessling single to right, giving Davis & Elkins a 1-0 lead.
The Senators added an important insurance run in the sixth. Ashlyn Zapach led off with a double to center and moved to third on a Trinity Fleming single. Audrey Higgins followed with a single to right and advanced to second on another Point Park error, allowing Zapach to score and extend the lead to 2-0.
Point Park answered in the bottom half of the inning. Mia Arndt led off with a bunt single and stole her 20th base of the season, remaining perfect in that category. Gia LaBrie moved her to third with a sacrifice bunt, and Cam Mann delivered with a triple to right, bringing home the Pioneers' first run. Mann later scored on a wild pitch, tying the game at 2-2 heading into the seventh.
Davis & Elkins responded in the final inning. Lorena Ruiz-Rubio singled with one out, and Fleming added a two-out single to put two runners on. Higgins then delivered the go-ahead RBI, scoring Ruiz-Rubio and giving the Senators a 3-2 lead.
The Senators closed the door in the bottom of the seventh, retiring the Pioneers in order to secure the win.
Arndt, Mann, and Jana Hess accounted for all three Point Park hits, each going 1-for-3.
Jarvis earned the complete-game victory, striking out eight while allowing two runs on three hits. Julia Johnson took the loss for Point Park, also throwing a complete game for the second consecutive day, allowing three runs (two earned) on 12 hits with three strikeouts.
GAME 2: DAVIS & ELKINS 12 – 5 POINT PARK
W: Kneeland (3-8) | L: Henry (1-8)
Emma Henry got the start for the Pioneers and set the tone early, retiring the side in order in the first inning. Point Park capitalized in the bottom half as Arndt led off with a single to right and quickly made an impact on the basepaths. She stole both second and third—improving to a perfect 22-for-22 on the season—and scored on a throwing error to give the Pioneers a 1-0 lead.
Davis & Elkins responded with a big second inning. Ashlyn Zapach opened with a single, and Cortney Dobbs followed with a hit while advancing on an error, putting runners at second and third. Higgins reached to load the bases, and after a strikeout, Christina Montgomery delivered a two-run single to give the Senators the lead. Jarvis added an RBI double, and Lorena Ruiz-Rubio followed with a two-run single as the Senators put up five runs and took a 5-1 advantage.
Point Park cut into the deficit in the third. Kaylee Fabiano drew a leadoff walk and moved to second on a bunt single from Arndt. LaBrie executed another sacrifice bunt to move both runners into scoring position, and Mann came through again with a two-run double to make it 5-3.
However, each time the Pioneers gained momentum, the Senators had an answer. In the fourth, Montgomery doubled and scored on another Jarvis double. Zapach later drove in a run with an infield single to extend the lead to 7-3.
Davis & Elkins continued to add on in the fifth. Higgins walked to lead off the inning and was replaced by a pinch runner. After another walk, Jarvis stayed hot at the plate with an RBI single, and a bases-loaded walk later in the inning pushed the lead to 9-3.
The Senators added to their total in the sixth and seventh innings, highlighted by an RBI double and a two-run single from Alyssa Haynes, stretching the lead to 12-3.
Point Park showed some late fight in the seventh, as LaBrie and Fabiano both scored on a Cam Mann single, but the rally fell short.
Mann led the Pioneers offensively in game two, going a perfect 3-for-3 with four RBIs. Arndt added two hits, while LaBrie and Fabiano each recorded one.
Saylor Kneeland earned the complete-game win, allowing five runs (four earned) on seven hits. Henry took the loss, pitching 4.2 innings and allowing nine runs while striking out two.
With the sweep, Davis & Elkins improves to 10-26 overall and 5-7 in MEC play. Point Park falls to 7-20 and 2-10 in the conference.
UP NEXT
Following the holiday weekend, Point Park will travel to Gannon on Wednesday for a non-conference doubleheader, with first pitch scheduled for 3:00 p.m. The Pioneers will then hit the road next weekend for conference matchups at Frostburg State (April 11) and Fairmont State (April 12), with both doubleheaders set for 1:00 p.m.
