Lexington, Ky. – The Mount St. Joseph Lions spoiled the Transylvania baseball team's 2017 senior day with a 4-3 win Tuesday afternoon at Marquard Field.

Beginning the day with a senior day ceremony in which eight seniors were honored, the Pioneers sought to claim the final game of the three-game season series with Mount St. Joseph. But after the Lions claimed a 2-0 lead to kick off the game, the Pioneers were unable to fully close the gap as they spent all afternoon chasing the visitors closely from behind.

The loss dropped Transylvania to 8-12 in Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference play, and 13-20 overall. Mount St. Joseph improved to 11-9 in HCAC play, and 17-16 overall.

Sophomore starting pitcher Josh Miller took the loss on a day where three different senior pitchers saw playing time, and five different pitchers partook in the game. Miller had four of the team's six strikeouts and issued three walks in his start.

The Lions got on the board early as their first three batters all reached base in a variety of ways; leadoff hitter Matt Hofmann led off via an infielding error, while Drew Werner walked, and Roman Rothwell followed with a base hit. A bases-loaded walk plated the first Lions run of the game, and an RBI groundout pushed the Lions ahead 2-0.

Transylvania returned the favor in the bottom of the second inning as freshman outfielder Riley Willbur drew a bases-loaded walk to cut Mount St. Joseph's advantage to 2-1. But a double play by freshman infielder David McAnelly concluded the inning prematurely.

The Pioneers were plagued in the early innings of the game by a contagion of double play issues, as Transylvania endured double plays in three consecutive innings.

Still in the midst of a 2-1 game, the Pioneers encountered trouble as a two-out infielding error prolonged the top of the eighth inning for the Lions. Mount St. Joseph took advantage of the extra baserunner as pinch hitter Zack Farmer smacked a home run to left field to grab a 4-1 lead.

Transylvania answered back in the bottom of the eighth inning with two more runs to once again cut Mount's lead to one run. Sophomore outfielder Daniel Seitzinger took advantage of the Lions' lone error of the day to reach base while sophomore outfielder Isaac Taylor scored. The next batter, junior designated hitter Blake Hart, delivered an RBI to score Seitzinger for the second run of the inning.

The Pioneers had one more chance to tie the game in the bottom of the ninth inning as senior pinch runner Will Adams stood 90 feet away from home plate after back-to-back singles. But with two outs, McAnelly struck out swinging and the Pioneers' comeback bid came to a close.

Taylor went 2-for-3 for the Pioneers with a double to lead the day offensively.

The Pioneers will complete their regular season with seven consecutive games away from Marquard Field, beginning with a three game series Friday at Earlham. First pitch between the Quakers and Pioneers is set for 4:15 p.m.

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