Lexington, Ky. – The Transylvania softball team suffered a pair of one-run losses to the No. 22 Trine University Thunder and the Wittenberg University Tigers on day two of the Pio Classic on Sunday afternoon at Hall Field.
Transylvania sent Kameron Bowling to the circle to face Trine. The senior surrendered six hits, gave up four earned runs, and struck out nine batters in seven innings of work.
Trailing the Thunder 2-0, the Pioneers got on board in the bottom of the first inning with an RBI triple from Annie Schuck. Transylvania cut the lead to 2-1 when Abby Frazier drove in Alyssa Nunn in the bottom of the second. The Pioneers were able to knot up the score at 3-3 when Schuck scored off a Nunn RBI.
The Pioneers jumped out to a 5-3 lead in the bottom of the sixth, thanks to an RBI double via Taylor Senter and an RBI single from Carson Murray.
Despite the Pioneers' timely offense, the Thunder came storming back to score three runs in the top of the seventh inning. The Pioneers were unable to respond in the bottom half of the frame, allowing Trine to escape with the 6-5 victory.
In game two, the Pioneers burst out to a 5-1 lead in the fifth inning courtesy of three hits, three walks, and a Wittenberg error in the bottom half of the frame. Murray, Senter, Schuck, and Stella Wulker each tallied an RBI in the scoring outburst.
Leading 6-4 entering the seventh inning, the Pioneers added an insurance run when Kinsey Smith reached on a fielder's choice that scored Senter.
However, the resilient Tigers scored three runs in the bottom half of the seventh inning to force extra innings. Despite loading the bases in the top of the eighth, the Pioneers were unable to manufacture a run.
Wittenberg completed the comeback bid with a walk-off RBI single in the bottom of the eight that delivered the Pioneers an 8-6 loss.
Cece Wittry picked up the loss for Transylvania. The senior tallied three strikeouts and scattered 11 hits over 4.2 innings of work.
The now 10-4 Pioneers will return to action tomorrow for a pair of games against the No. 7 DePauw University Tigers. First pitch of game one is slated for 3:30 p.m. from Hall Field.
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