Chris Bryant
Contributing Writer

LEXINGTON, KY - In a Monday evening thriller at Legends Field, the Transylvania University Pioneers battled back and forth with the Spalding Golden Eagles, securing a hard-fought 8-6 victory in a game that went down to the wire.

The game was a battle from the start, with both teams trading runs early. Spalding jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first, but Transylvania quickly responded in the bottom of the first. Ethan Dillon sparked the offense by drawing a leadoff walk. Later in the inning, Henry Mitcham delivered a clutch single to left field, driving in Ethan Dillon to tie the game. Austin Taylor then capitalized on the momentum, scoring to give Transylvania an early 2-1 advantage. The back-and-forth continued, with Spalding tying the game in the second, Transylvania regaining the lead in the second and third, and Spalding tying it again in the fourth and taking the lead in the sixth, creating a tense atmosphere at Legends Field.

Heading into the seventh inning tied 4-4, the Pioneer offense exploded. Chris Hedinger got things started by reaching base, and Austin Taylor followed suit, putting runners on. Then, Max Finn stepped to the plate and delivered a moment of magic, blasting a dramatic inside-the-park home run. The electrifying hit cleared the bases, sending the home crowd into a frenzy and putting Transylvania ahead 7-4. The excitement didn't stop there. In the very next at-bat, Baxter Tedesco followed up with a solo home run of his own, launching a towering shot to center field and extending the lead to 8-4, showcasing the offensive firepower of the Pioneers.

Spalding, showing their own fighting spirit, refused to go quietly. They mounted a comeback in the eighth inning, scoring two runs to narrow the gap to 8-6 and put pressure back on the Pioneers. The Golden Eagles threatened again in the ninth, putting runners on and creating a nail-biting finish, but Matt Armstrong, who had entered the game in relief in the eighth, remained composed. Armstrong shut the door, striking out two batters in the final inning to secure the thrilling victory for the Pioneers in front of a home crowd of 186. 

Offensively, Transylvania was undeniably led by Max Finn, whose inside-the-park home run was the game-changer, driving in four crucial runs. Baxter Tedesco also delivered a powerful performance, contributing two RBIs with his solo home run. Henry Mitcham continued his consistent hitting, tallying three hits, including a double in the third inning, and driving in an important early run. Seita Shiratori contributed a single to the offensive effort, while Ethan Dillon, after drawing that leadoff walk, reached base twice and scored a run for the Pioneers. Austin Taylor proved to be a spark plug on the basepaths, swiping two bases, scoring two pivotal runs, and igniting the team's offense. Bryce Dreher also contributed by drawing a walk and scoring a run.

On the mound, Gabe Dillard earned the well-deserved win in relief for Transylvania, pitching two solid innings and striking out three Golden Eagles in a high-pressure situation. Matt Armstrong was credited with the save, displaying composure as he held Spalding scoreless in the final 1.1 innings. Drew Bowles started the game for the Pioneers, delivering two innings of work with four strikeouts, setting the tone early on. Giancarlo Gonzalez and Brayden Offenbacher also provided valuable innings in relief, contributing to a strong team pitching performance.

Transylvania will look to carry this momentum into their next contest, a three-game series against Westminster College (MO) on March 8th and 9th. The Pioneers will host a double-header against Westminster on Saturday, March 8th, followed by the series finale on Sunday, March 9th.

To keep up with Transy Baseball, follow the Pioneers on Instagram and X @transybaseball Transylvania University is a proud member of NCAA Division III and the HCAC. To keep up to date with all of Transylvania Athletics, check out our website at www.transysports.com and follow @TransySports on Instagram.