Lexington, Ky. – The Transylvania baseball team used a third-inning barrage and another career night from Jake Schmidt on the mound to overpower the Hanover College Panthers 8-5 on Friday night at Legends Ballpark.
 
The Pioneers improve their record to 9-3 on the year while Hanover drops to 9-9 overall.
 
Schmidt won his fourth consecutive start to begin the season, moving to 4-0 overall. The senior rang up a career-high eight batters over a season-high seven innings to augment a busy night of hitting for the home team which gathered 14 hits.
 
Hanover edged out to an early lead by plating one run in the top of the first frame. The Pioneers quickly responded in the second inning as Wade Lopiccolo found the left-center gap with a two-out double. Parker Tuszynski then roped an RBI single to centerfield to knot up the score at 1-1 heading into the third.
 
The Transylvania onslaught began in the third as Trent Youngblood drew a lead-off walk. Riley Willbur followed him up by executing a hit-and-run to perfection, lining an RBI triple down the left-field line. Hudson Chastain rewarded his teammate Youngblood for his efforts by bringing him home with an RBI single to centerfield. Michael Blair punctuated the inning with a two-run blast beyond left field with a ball that exited Legends Ballpark. The Pioneers plated four in the third inning to extend the lead to 5-1.
 
Transylvania distanced themselves further on a fourth-inning triple by Youngblood, who rounded all the bases with help from a Hanover error for a 6-1 Pioneer lead.
 
The Panthers replied with two runs in the top of the fifth but were met with a quick response in the seventh inning. Nick Wade delivered a frozen-rope double off of the right-field wall to plate Blair and push the Pioneers in front, 7-3.
 
Willbur stayed hot at the plate by driving in an insurance run in the eighth with an RBI single through the right side, scoring the eighth run for the Pioneers.
 
Hanover made a late push in the ninth inning with a solo home run and an RBI single to score two, putting pressure on the Pioneers. Closer Max Medley had other ideas and stayed true in relief by striking out four batters in his two innings of work to bring the night to a conclusion.
 
In addition to Schmidt's career-high 11 K's, the senior only surrendered three earned runs on five hits.
 
WIllbur paced the Pioneers by going 2 for 5 with one triple, one single, two RBI, one stolen base, a run scored.
 
Parker Tuszynski had an efficient game at the plate with a season-high three hits on a 3 for 4 night at the plate to go with an RBI.
 
The Pioneers return to action tomorrow with a conference doubleheader against the Anderson University Ravens at Legends Ballpark. First pitch for the opening game is set for 1:00 p.m.
 
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