Hanover, In. - The Transylvania baseball team continuously put up runs, including a clutch grand slam from Trent Youngblood, but ultimately came up short on Tuesday afternoon in a doubleheader against the Hanover College Panthers.
In game one, the Pioneers took advantage of an error and plated two runs, both on fielder's choice plays, and led 2-0 after the top of the first. Connor Arnold pitched through the first frame, but in the second Hanover answered back and took a 4-2 lead. In the top of the third Transy came within one as Youngblood came home on another error, however the Panthers responded in the bottom of the inning and made it a 6-3 game.
In the top of the fourth Transylvania's offense roared back as TJ Keck came through with a bases loaded double. Walter Munday followed it up with a base hit that scored two more, as Transylvania retook the lead at 7-6. From there, Ty Conner took over on the mound and retired the side in order to close out the fourth.
Hanover tied the game with a home run in the fifth, but Conner got a bases loaded strikeout to get out of the inning. Both teams went scoreless until the bottom of the seventh when the Panthers took the lead, and did more damage with a two out double to add to it, 10-7. In the eighth inning Hanover continued to put up runs, making it 19-7, which proved to be the final score.
In game two Transylvania once again put up two runs in the top of the first, this time loading the bases and scoring on both a hit by pitch and a walk. Lee Watson pitched through the first two innings effectively but Hanover got going in the third inning and took a 3-2 lead. Nick Wade's double in the fifth scored two and recaptured the lead for Transy, but the advantage again switched hands as the Panthers put up five runs in the fifth and sixth innings, making it a 8-4 game.
Transylvania came up with a huge rally in the seventh, starting with a Matt Broadwater single that brought two home, and another Wade double made it a one run game. With the bases loaded, Youngblood gave the Pioneers the lead in style, with a massive grand slam, and suddenly the score was 11-8.
Having lost their lead, Hanover tied the game right back in the seventh, but the momentum continued to swing as Austin Taylor singled to score Braden Becker in the eighth, giving Transy a 12-11 lead. Unfortunately for the Pioneers, Hanover not only tied the game in the eighth but went on an outburst putting up several runs. By the end of the eighth, Transy found themselves down by eight with just three outs to go. Munday's base knock scored Youngblood, but the deficit proved too much to overcome, as Hanover took the game 20-13.
The Pioneers return home to take on the Franklin College Grizzlies for Senior Day on Saturday, April 30th, with a 12 & 3 PM doubleheader at Kentucky Proud Park on the campus of the University of Kentucky.
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