On day two of the double-elimination NCAA Regional for #20 Transy Softball, the Pioneers faced Spalding and Coe back-to-back. Weather and field conditions pushed back their start time, but games were finally played after an hour delay.
For the first game of the day, the Pioneers faced the Spalding Eagles. Coming into the bottom of the first, the Pioneers were down two to start, but added their own two. Stella Wulker led off with a single to left and scored on an RBI to right by senior Taylor Senter. Senior Carson Murray followed with a single to right center to move Senter to third. Senior Abby Frazier laid down a bunt and was safe at first with a fielder's choice. An errant throw on the play scored Senter tying it at two each.
In the third, Spalding added three, and Transy answered with two. Schuck led off with a single to left center, was out at second as Senter reached on a fielder's choice. Frazier sent a single through the left side to move Senter to scoring position. Sophomore Emilie Teall sent an RBI single to right scoring Senter and an errant throw scored Frazier to make it 4-5.
Going into the bottom of the fourth, Wulker singled down the left field line, but was out at second by fielder's choice leaving Mewes safe at first. Schuck singled to left, moving Mewes to third. After a failed pick off of Addy Mack (pinch runner for Schuck), Mewes scored to make it 5-6.
Down one, the Pioneers added two in the bottom of the sixth to come back and win the second game of the regional. Wulker doubled down the left field line, Emily Hestand walked (Mewes came to run). Murray sent an RBI single to center to score Wulker and Mewes for the 7-6 lead and win. Wulker led the Pioneers going 4-4 with 2RBI including a double and a stolen base.
First-year Sophie Moshos picked up her 17th win on the season including four strikeouts in 3.2 innings.
In game three of the regional, the Pioneers faced Coe College for the second time in the bracket. The Kohawks took the 2-0 lead in the second with Transy coming back with one in the fourth. Mewes singled up the middle, moved to third on a double to right by Schuck, and scored on an RBI sacrifice fly to left by Senter.
In the bottom of the sixth, down four runs, Schuck led off with a homerun down the left field line. Senter kept the rally going with a single up the middle, but the Pioneers did not push anymore runs across until the bottom of the seventh. Emily Hestand pinch hit and singled to right center to get things started. Wulker sent a two-run homerun to center, but the comeback ended two runs short. Shuck led the Pioneers going 3-4 with a double and a homerun. Jeter had three strikeouts and finished the season with a 17-4 record.
With the second loss, the Pioneers finished their season 34-11 overall, 18-0 perfect at home, and 15-1 in conference. This afternoon, the NFCA announced its all-region team with Annie Schuck and Stella Wulker on first-team and Abby Frazier on third-team.
