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Box Score 2 Lexington, Ky. – The Transylvania softball team ushered in its 2017 season with a pair of dramatic late-game finishes Saturday on Day One of the Transylvania Tournament at John Cropp Stadium.
In the first game of the day, the Pioneers came up short against the Wartburg College Knights in a 6-5 defeat that went eight innings. In their nightcap, the Pios endured a 6-4 loss in a 10-inning marathon.
The Pioneers dropped to 0-2 with two games remaining on Sunday in the final day of the Transylvania Tournament.
Game One
Of the four teams participating in the Transylvania Tournament, Wartburg was the only squad to enter the weekend having played previous games. With a 5-1 record entering the contest, the Knights tabbed a run against junior pitcher Renae Morton, who was making her first career start for Transy, in the bottom of the first inning.
The Pioneers quickly responded with a powerful four-run inning in the top of the second to take a 4-1 lead. Sophomore infielder Meg Liter led off the charge with a single, and sophomore catcher Jessica Powell's hard liner was mishandled by the Wartburg third baseman to put two Pioneers aboard. Wartburg committed three more errors in the inning, allowing Transylvania to build the three-run lead.
Both sides settled down defensively over the next four innings before Wartburg pulled back one run in the bottom of the sixth inning on an RBI double by the Knight's Taylor Smola. Wartburg completed its comeback in the seventh on an RBI triple from Mara Forsyth that drove in the game-tying run to force extra-inning play.
The Pioneers quickly broke the 4-4 tie in the top of eighth inning, as sophomore infielder Brittany Mumford drove in an RBI double to score freshman infielder Sydney Motell for a 5-4 lead.
But Wartburg answered in the bottom of the eighth inning, delivering three hits and taking advantage of one more Transylvania error to draw a bases-loaded walk-off walk for the 6-5 win.
Morton went all 7.2 innings in defeat for the Pioneers, scattering four earned runs over that span, while tallying three strikeouts. Mumford, a 2016 All-HCAC First team selection, led the Pioneers in hitting 3-for-4 at the plate with two doubles. Sophomore outfielder Shelbi Poehlein went 2-for-4 with a stolen base.
Game Two
What started as a defensively-oriented game between Transylvania and Trine grew into a war of attrition in the latter stages. An RBI double from Poehlein plated Mumford in the bottom of the first inning. Trine quickly evened the game in the following inning as the Thunder's Carly Bachna rushed home from third base on a passed ball.
The game remained deadlocked at one until the sixth inning, when full drama ensued. Trine unleashed an outpouring of three runs in the top of the inning, bolstered by two RBI doubles from the Thunder.
Trailing 4-1, the Pioneers engineered an instant response in the bottom of the sixth inning. A leadoff single from sophomore outfielder Shelby Gambrell started the rally, and Poehlein followed with an RBI double to cut Trine's lead to 4-2.
Bailey drew a one-out walk, and Liter followed with a double to left field to score both runners and tie the game at 4-4.
Both teams jousted into the seventh inning, but neither was able to come up with the go-ahead run. The Pioneers retired the side in the eighth inning, but flew out in the bottom half of the frame and play continued into the ninth.
A second consecutive extra inning of offensive resistance occurred, and the moment of breakaway came in the top of the 10th for Trine; a one-run home run from Kaylee Fox provided the Thunder with a 6-4 lead.
The Pioneers placed two runners aboard in the bottom of the 10th, but two consecutive pop-ups brought a hard-fought game to a close in favor of Trine.
Poehlein went 2-for-4 with a walk and two RBIs in the nightcap. Both of Poehlein's hits were doubles. Liter and Mumford each added a double with two RBIs apiece.
The Pioneers are back in action at 10:00 a.m. at John Cropp Stadium to take on the Depauw University Tigers. Depending on the outcome, the Pioneers may play their second game Sunday at approximately 2:00 p.m. or 4:00 p.m. contingent upon the results of other tournament games.
For the latest tournament updates, head to TOURNAMENT CENTRAL
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