Lexington, Ky. - On Saturday evening, the number one seeded Transylvania University softball team played in two elimination games on their path to reaching the HCAC Championship. The Pioneers had to keep winning to stay alive, as any loss would have ended their season. 

Game 1: Franklin College - To start the day, the Pioneers were facing off against the Franklin College Grizzlies in a win or go home matchup. The Grizzlies jumped out to a 2-0 lead before the Pioneers got on the board in the top of the third. Ry'Ann Tharp got on base from an electrifying double to left field, then advanced to third off a Stella Wulker sacrifice fly, and crossed home on a double steal play.  

Franklin added two more runs in the bottom of the third to take a 4-1 lead, but that lead was not safe as the Pioneers were back up to bat. In the top of the fourth they for four total runs to take the lead. Those four runs came by a two pair of two RBI singles, by Tharp and Stella Wulker. The score was then 5-4 heading into the bottom half of the fourth, where the Grizzlies tied it up at 5-5, then took their lead back in the next inning, by just one run.

Down by one going into the sixth of the do or die game, Transylvania was not done fighting for the tournament crown. Emilie Teall scored after a fielding error, and Abby Frazier's clutch RBI single scored Tharp. The Pioneers held the Grizzlies scoreless for the rest of the game, as they earned the tense win and moved on to a rematch against Hanover College.

Game 2: Hanover College - The second match of the day was played to determine who would move on and face Mount St Joseph in the conference championship match on Sunday. The game was mostly defensive, as neither team gave up many runs and both clearly wanted their shot at the HCAC title. 

The Panthers put one on the board before the Pioneers, but that was all the Pios would allow as pitcher Carlee Jeter was terrific in the circle and the Transylvania fielding was excellent. The Hanover run came in the second and the Pioneers answered right back the next inning with a sacrifice fly from Frazier to score Messing. At the end of the third, the score was tied 1-1. In the fourth inning, Schuck displayed some Pio Power as she hit a deep solo shot to left field to take a 2-1 lead and energize the Pioneer crowd. Transylvania added huge insurance runs in the fifth, as Nunn reached base on a hit that brought home Messing and then Wulker also came home later in the inning.

Neither team scored for the rest of the game, as the Pioneers maintained their lead and controlled the rest of the game. Transylvania won the contest by a score of 4-1 and moved on to the championship round of the HCAC Tournament. They will face off against the Lions of Mount St Joseph tomorrow starting at 12:00 PM. The Pioneers will need to win two in a row against the Lions, while MSJ only has to win one game, to take home the conference crown. If necessary, game two tomorrow is scheduled to begin at 2 PM. 

For updates on the HCAC Tournament, check out the Tournament Central page on the HCAC website.