Defiance, OH – The Transylvania softball team finished off their road trip in style as they secured a clutch victory from Defiance in Game two of their Saturday doubleheader, emerging victorious 2-1 over the Yellow Jackets.

The Pioneers returned the favor to Defiance after a Game one 5-3 setback against the Yellow Jackets. The Pioneers erupted for 14 runs to just five by the Yellow Jackets in the first game of the day, but the 14 hits translated to three runs.

Freshman Jenna Stiles received the start in Game one and pitched six strong innings, tallying two strikeouts and scattering three walks over that stretch. Second baseman Brittany Mumford, shortstop Shelby Bailey, third baseman Meg Liter, outfielder Krista DeBurger and catcher Jessica Powell all had two runs each for the Pioneers.

Both of Bailey's hits were doubles, while Liter and Powell also enjoyed one double each. Liter and DeBurger provided the RBIs in Game one for Transylvania.

The Pioneers endured a 4-0 deficit in Game one before engineering a comeback on the home stretch to create a chance for victory. Transylvania got on the board in the top of the sixth inning when Shelby Poehlein scored on a catcher's error to cut Defiance's lead to 4-1. The Pioneers quickly whittle their prior deficit in half when DeBurger delivered one of Transylvania's two RBIs to score Meg Liter for a 4-2 deficit.

Defiance would tack on a run in the bottom of the inning before the Pioneers responded in the top of the seventh inning. After Bailey led off the inning with a double, Poehlein reachied first base on a third baseman error, while Bailey made her way to the hot corner. Liter than drove in Poehlein to cut Defiance's lead to 5-3, but the Pioneers could score no further and the Yellow Jackets secured the Game one victory.

In Game two, the Pioneers registered one of their most complete performances of the season. There were many heroes to choose from in Transylvania's gutty 2-1 effort as starting pitcher Jamie Lutes pitched all seven innings for the Pios, allowing just one run while striking out three over the afternoon.

While the Pioneers only delivered five hits compared to 14 in Game 1, they made all of them count in the final game of the day.  

Lutes stifled the Yellow Jackets from the mound while the Pioneers finally found the offensive stroke they needed in the fourth inning. Mumford led off the inning with a base hit to the right field alley, and Bailey was induced into a one-out groundout that moved Mumford to second. Facing two outs, DeBurger came through for Transylvania with a two-RBI single to score Bailey and Mumford for a 2-0 lead.

The clutch RBIs for DeBurger turned out to be the game-winning runs for Transylvania, who relied on a steadfast defensive effort the rest of the way to close down shop against Defiance. Lutes continued making quick work of the Yellow Jackets as Defiance stranded a runner in the bottom of the fifth and grounded into an inning-inning double play in the following sixth.

Transylvania came close to posting an insurance run in the top of the seventh inning, but Liter was thrown out at the plate and Defiance stayed within reach as they still trailed, 2-0.

The bottom of the seventh inning saw some dramatic moments put forth by Defiance. Defiance led off with a double to right center, and after a groundout to advance the runner to third and an ensuing strikeout, the Pioneers were one out away from a two-run victory. Instead, Defiance delivered an RBI double to left centerfield to keep their hopes alive with a 2-1 Pioneers lead. But Lutes induced Sandra Hubler into a game-ending flyout, and a positive victory to send Transylvania into the start of Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference play with some momentum after a grueling and productive opening season road ledger.

The Pioneers moved to 7-8 overall as they look ahead to Wednesday's home opener at John R. Hall Field when they host Franklin in an afternoon doubleheader. The first pitch for Game one of the doubleheader is set for 3:30 p.m.