Lexington, Ky. – The Transylvania baseball team used a high-octane offensive display and a career day from Wade Lopiccolo to defeat the Anderson University Ravens, 16-1 in the first leg and 11-9 in the second leg of a doubleheader at Legends Ballpark on Saturday afternoon.
 
The Pioneers secured both victories to move their record to 11-3 while Anderson fell to 10-8 on the year.
 
The Pioneers jumped out to an early afternoon lead in the first inning through a flurry of offense by the heart of the order. Following a pair of walks, Hudson Chastain laced a single down the left-field line to score two while advancing to second on the throw. Wade Lopiccolo followed suit by shooting an RBI single to centerfield to push the Pioneer advantage to 3-0.
 
Anderson cut into the advantage by plating a run in the top of the third.
 
Transylvania responded by setting a season-high for runs in an inning.
 
Michael Blair began the third-inning assault by driving an RBI single to opposite field. The Pioneers loaded the bases via a walk, a Raven error, and an RBI single from Nick Wade.
 
The revolving door of walks began to turn as Transylvania plated four runs via bases on balls to distance themselves from the Ravens. Riley Willbur drove an RBI single into the left-center gap and Lopiccolo capped the inning by providing a sacrifice fly to right field. The damage totaled nine runs and a 12-1 lead for the Pioneers.
 
The Pioneers continued their attack in the fourth frame with Devyn Wilson-Cowan leading off the inning with a walk. Another error plagued the Ravens as an errant throw allowed Trent Pahl to reach base while Wilson-Cowan trotted home. Willbur lined an RBI single through the left side to score Pahl, and Blair stayed hot at the dish by spearing a two-run double to the wall in left to complete the home side scoring for a 16-1 advantage.
 
Evan Hall earned the win and moved to 2-1 on the year for the Pioneers by dealing six innings and collecting three strikeouts while surrendering one unearned run on three hits.
 
Riley Willbur torched the Ravens going 2 for 3 with two singles, two RBI, two walks, and four runs scored.
 
Hudson Chastain paced the offense on a 3 for 4 opener at the plate with three singles, one walk, three RBI, and two runs scored.
 
The Pioneers continued to mount the pressure in the afternoon sequel by striking early and often. After a pair of hits from Willbur and Chastain, an errant throw by the Anderson catcher allowed Willbur to score the opening run of the contest. Lopiccolo then powered an RBI single down the left-field line to plate Chastain. Back-to-back wild pitches from the Anderson pitcher plated two more runs before Parker Tuszynski singled through the left side to jump the Pioneer advantage to 5-0 after the first.
 
After Anderson responded with two runs in the second, Transylvania replied with three of its own, courtesy of a Lopiccolo three-run homer deposited deep into the left-field bleachers to make the score 8-2.
 
The Ravens cut the lead to just three runs after plating a trio of runs in the third inning. Transylvania rallied in the fourth with a pair of runs scored via a Wilson-Cowan sacrifice fly RBI and a Pahl RBI single to secure a 10-5 lead for the Pioneers.
 
Anderson continued to fight as the Ravens scored three runs in the fifth, but Lopicciolo had other plans as he rifled another RBI to gain an additional insurance run, bringing the score to 11-8. Another Anderson rally was stymied as Max Medley pitched consistently in relief by closing the door at 11-10.
 
Wade Lopiccolo had career-bests in hits, RBIs, and runs scored, going 5 for 5 with four singles, one home run, five RBI, and three runs scored.
 
Hudson Chastain gouged the Ravens by going 3 for 5 with three singles and two runs scored.
 
The Pioneers will travel to Terre Haute, Indiana to take on the Rose-Hulman Fightin' Engineers in a doubleheader tomorrow, April 4. The first contest is scheduled to begin at 2:00 p.m.
 
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