Angola, IN - Back on the Division III "mainland" after a week-long spring break slate down in Clermont, Florida where the Transylvania softball team went a promising 6-5, the Pioneers continued their 12^th and 13^th games of the year on the road as they visited the Trine Thunder on Friday.

The Pioneers arrived to Trine winning three of their last four games, but the Thunder got the best of Transylvania in Game 1, winning 10-1 in five innings. The Thunder scored seven times over the first two innings to build an early lead. Jamie Lutes got the start for Transylvania and was later followed in the game by Tayler Thompson and Meg Liter who combined to allow two earned runs the rest of the way.

Transylvania was able to get on the board in the third inning thanks to a Shelbi Poehlein RBI single into right field to score Shelby Bailey. But the Thunder scored once more in the bottom of the third inning and twice in the fourth inning to bring the game to a close in five innings.

Lead-off hitter Brittany Mumford provided a spark for the Pioneers in the first game of the doubleheader, going 2-for-3 on the day. Catcher Jessica Powell also chipped in with a hit and finishing 1-for-2 on the day.

After trying to gain traction in the opening game of the doubleheader, the nightcap featured a collection of hits and drama between the Pioneers and Thunder. Freshman Jenna Stiles carried an impressive sub-1.50 ERA into the game, primed to pick up from where she left off in a series of impressive outings down in Florida.

Game two saw a scoreless first two innings between the teams before the fireworks began going off in the third inning. Jordan Kramer delivered a one-out solo home run to left field to hand the Pioneers their first lead of the game. After an infielding error by the Thunder to place Mumford on second base, Bailey surged a left field double to drive home Mumford and place Transylvania ahead at 2-0.

Trine responded in kind with four runs in the bottom of the third inning to claim a 4-2 lead over Transy, and the score remained that way until the bottom of the fifth when Trine tacked on another with an RBI single.

But the Pioneers found another burst in the top of the sixth with the second long bomb of the day by Transylvania off a Krista DeBurger two-run home run that also drove in Bailey to trim Trine's lead to 5-4. The Pioneers created a new game when Poehlein's double to right field drove in Miranda Mathews to tie the game at 5-5.

Trine's offense continued to respond, as the Thunder loaded the bases and scored two more runs to retake the lead at 7-5. But Transy refused to back down with Trine threatening to take control of the game.

Facing a game-ending situation in the top of the seventh inning, the Pioneers immediately began their rally as Mumford led off with an infield single. Gambrell followed with a drive into center field to knock Trine's pitcher out of the game and the tying run aboard. The drama intensified as a wild pitch advanced both runners with one out. Ever the threat on this night, DeBurger delivered with another RBI base hit to right field and score Mumford. Following that at-bat, Meg Liter drove a far enough shot into the outfield for a sacrifice fly RBI and the Pioneers tied the score again at seven.

The Pioneers moved to the bottom of the seventh hoping to extend the game into extra innings, but the Thunder had the last word, placing Alison Lang and moving her around the bases into position for a game-winning RBI to claim an 8-7 win.

Transylvania continues their road warrior experience with another doubleheader tomorrow against Defiance. The matchup also serves as the conference opener for Transylvania who will finally come home to John R. Hall Field for their season opener Wednesday, April 30. First pitch for the Defiance doubleheader is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.

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