Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 LEXINGTON, Ky. - A clutch double in the bottom of the seventh by sophomore Katie Hulsman gave Transylvania softball a walk-off 5-4 victory Thursday, splitting a two-game series with Heartland Conference opponent Franklin in their last home game of the season.

Transylvania's offensive effort was led by the teams' standout pitchers, sophomores Jamie Lutes and Katie Hulsman. Lutes went 3-for-7 with one run and three RBI, followed by Hulsman who notched one run and three RBI in 3-for-8 hitting. Freshman first baseman Shelby Bailey also played a pivotal role, going 3-for-7 in the series, notching two runs, one RBI and a walk.

A solid pitching outing by Lutes held Franklin scoreless for five innings in game two, just in time for the Pioneers' bats to light up in the sixth. A lead-off walk would put DeBurger on base, eventually advancing to second off a sacrifice fly by Hulsman. Pitcher Jamie Lutes would patiently hack at the plate until she nailed a long ball over the left center fence, netting two RBI and cutting the deficit to 4-2.

Lutes kept the Grizzlies at bay in the seventh, giving Transylvania an opportunity to rally. Down two, Franklin pitcher Bailey Lindamood hit Pioneer right fielder Ashley Frees, giving up an early base. A bounced grounder to the third baseman off the bat of Rodabaugh would be bobbled, failing to reach first in time for the out. With two on, a passed ball would give Frees an extra base for Lauren Willetts' appearance at the plate. Franklin would skate by, as Willett flied out to second, but it would be Shelby Bailey who would smack a clutch double to centerfield to spark the Pioneer comeback, scoring Frees to bring the game within one, 4-3.

An intentional walk was issued to hot-hitting DeBurger, bringing designated player Hulsman up to seal the Transylvania victory. Hulsman made the Grizzlies pay, as hard hit bouncer to a hole in centerfield would sail-in the walk-off winner.

The Pioneers found little success on the offensive end in game one, while several key defensive missteps gave Franklin an advantage.

At the mound for Transylvania was pitcher Katie Hulsman, who struggled early, recording two quick outs but issued back-to-back walks in the top of the first inning. A hit a blooper to the third baseman Elizabeth Young was bobbled, loading the bases for Franklin's Baylea Suiter. Suiter knocked a clean hit to shallow left field, putting the Grizzlies on the board, 2-0.

Franklin's bats would remain hot in the second, leading off with a single to centerfield. Grizzlies' Shannon Farr followed, laying down a bunt that should have been a solid out at first from Elizabeth Young, but the throw sailed over the first baseman Bailey's head to give the Grizzlies two runners in scoring position. What seemed like an easy groundout to Maddy Rodabaugh resulted in the teams' second consecutive throwing error to first base, as the ball was thrown wide, giving Franklin their third run of the game.

The errors came back to bite the Pioneers, as one batter later nailed a two RBI double, putting Franklin up 5-0 with none out. The Grizzlies' batter Savannah Blevins walked after pushing Hulsman to a full count. The Pioneers first out came on a hopper to Pioneers' second baseman, recording the force out. A strong hit by Grizzlies' Suiter was bobbled by Rodabaugh at shortstop, unable to snag the second out. A ground out and pop up to left field would end the Franklin rally, giving the team a 6-0 advantage heading into the bottom of the second.

The Pioneers offense would flicker in the bottom of the second, starting with a hit by Hulsman who barely legged out a single before the throw.  A smack of the ball by Lutes sailed over the outstretched hands of the Franklin second baseman to follow, notching a double with none out. Next, Lauren Willet's hit to right field was tossed to first, but the attempt of an out at home was unsuccessful, allowing Hulsman to slide into homeplate to score the Pioneers' first run of the game.

Franklin extended their cushion in the third and fourth, as the Pioneers gave up three more runs, putting them behind 9-1. Lutes would come in to relieve Hulsman in fourth, just in time for a Pioneer rally.

Bats came to life in the fifth for the Pioneers, starting with junior catcher Cassie Hamilton who led off with a single up the middle and was subsequently replaced by senior Andi Martin to pinch run. Bailey reached on an error by Franklin's shortstop, advancing Martin to scoring position at second. A long double, bouncing off the centerfield fence by DeBurger, drove in two, putting Transylvania within six, 9-3. A line drive to the shortstop by Hulsman nailed her out at first, but not before scoring Bailey, making it a 9-4 ballgame. Lutes followed with a ground out, but the sacrifice scored DeBurger, cutting the deficit to 9-5. A strikeout swinging would shut down the Pioneers' attempt at a comeback, as a final run in the seventh would solidify the 10-5 Franklin win.

Transylvania will cap their 2014 season on the road, facing Defiance in a double header on Saturday at 1 p.m. in hopes of securing a spot in the Heartland Conference tournament.