Westfield, Ind. - The Pioneer baseball team started off their 2022 campaign in Westfield, Indiana at Grand Park as they took on the Hope College Dutchmen. It was a cold afternoon in Westfield as the teams took the field to begin the season, and both teams took some time to get their bats warmed up to start the year as well.

Hope took their opportunity to score at the top of the second with a player on base, coming off of a sacrifice fly to center field. The Pioneers got out of the inning with just the 1 run allowed, but they couldn't find a way to get on base in response. 

Through the third and fourth innings the Pioneers were struggling to get a hit off of the Hope pitcher, still without any baserunners on the afternoon. Meanwhile, Hope's batters broke through and plated 4 more runs, to go up 5-0.  In the sixth inning it was freshman Bryce Dreher who came through with Transylvania's first hit of the season. The Pioneers were unable to capitalize however, ending the inning still at 5-0.

After five runs scored, the game slowed down in the later innings. The Pioneers recorded the only hit of the 7th and 8th, with a double from Walter Munday. The Pioneers bullpen was able to keep the score at 5-0, but they couldn't break through offensively. 

After a pitching change in the 7th inning, reliever Ty Conner allowed only 1 hit which came at the top of the ninth as well as striking out 6 batters. Starting pitcher Jake Schmidt ended his day after pitching four innings and striking out 6 batters himself. In the bottom of the ninth, the Pioneers were able to get two players on base after Hope walked batter Austin Taylor and had an error with Seth Stevens at the plate. But the Pios were unable to capitalize, finishing the 5-0 game with a ground out to third base.

The Transylvania baseball team looks ahead to tomorrow with the opportunity to grab their first win against the Depauw University Tigers. The game will take place on field D-5, at Grand Park in Westfield, Indiana. 

For more information on Transylvania baseball, follow @TransyBaseball on Twitter.