LEXINGTON - Transylvania Baseball continued their hot streak to begin the season, improving to 8-1 on the year after taking the first two games against Westminster on Saturday evening. The Pioneers defeated the Blue Jays 10-0 in eight innings in game one, and 7-2 in game two.
Transylvania's offense poured on ten runs over eight innings, while the pitching staff shined in game one.
Connor Arnold earned his first win of the season. He went seven innings strong, striking out five batters and giving up only one hit on ninety-one pitches.
Gabe Dillard finished the game in the eighth inning, striking out two batters and giving up no runs to secure the mercy rule shutout.
Eight different Pioneers combined for thirteen hits in the win.
Walter Munday led Transy in hits with three.
Trent Youngblood hit his second home run of the season, a two-run shot in the fourth inning that sparked a four run fourth.
Bryce Dreher's RBI double and
Braden Becker's RBI single in the fourth put the Pioneers ahead 5-0.
Dreher's second hit and RBI of the night extended the lead to 6-0 in the sixth inning, and the lead would soon be 8-0 an inning later as
Henry Mitcham hit a single that scored both
Calvin Schubert and
Trent Pahl.
After holding the Blue Jays scoreless in the top of the eighth,
Camden McAtee and made it a 9-0 ballgame with an RBI double to left field.
Trent Pahl's sacrifice fly a batter later gave Transy the 10-0 win.
The Pioneers played their first game under the lights at Legends Stadium this season in game two.
Trent Youngblood gave the Pioneers their first run of the game in the first inning with an RBI double to score Trent Paul.
Westminster scored their first run of the day in the fourth inning, but Transy responded with a run in the fifth on
Calvin Schubert's RBI single to center field. The Blue Jays tied things up in the seventh at 2-2, but Transylvania's big eighth inning distanced themselves from a Blue Jays comeback.
Transy scored five of their seven runs in the eighth, and capitalized on Westminster errors and walks. TU scored their first run of the inning on an error by the Blue Jay defense on a sacrifice bunt, then RBI singles by
Chase Gartner and
Calvin Schubert extended the lead to three runs. The Pioneers scored their final two runs of the game on back to back walks.
Camryn Warfield earned his second win of the season in relief. He allowed no hits and no runs in relief in the eighth inning.
Luke Patton went seven innings, allowing just two runs while striking out five batters.
Matt Armstrong finished things off for the Pioneers in the ninth to secure the win.
Trent Youngblood reached a career milestone today, reaching 200 hits in his career. With his second hit of the game, a single through the left side, he broke the 200 hit mark. Youngblood is now one of four players to join the 200 hit club in Pioneer history. He is 18 hits away from tying the all time record in program history.
At 8-1, Transylvania is off to their best start in over two decades. The Pioneers have also received votes for the D3 Baseball Top-25.
With a .321 team average and .444 on base percentage, Transylvania leads the HCAC. The pitching staff also leads the HCAC with an ERA of 3.71.
Up next: The Pioneers will go for the sweep against Westminster in the series finale tomorrow at 2 PM at Legends Stadium.
To keep up with Transy Baseball, follow the team on social media @transybaseball
