KOKOMO, Ind. - Transylvania Baseball fell to Hanover College in the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference championship game 9-6 this afternoon. The Pioneers finish as HCAC Tournament Runners Up.

Transylvania trailed early on in the game as Hanover scored 3 runs in the 1st inning, and extended their lead to 5 runs after the top half of the 4th. The Pioneers brought the deficit down to 2 runs in the bottom half of the inning. Colin McElfresh singled to bring in Walter Munday, and a bases loaded walk by Trent Pahl made it a 3 run game. With 1 out and bases loaded, Calvin Schubert's sacrifice fly brought in McElfresh and made it a 5-3 game.

The Panthers added a pair of runs in the 6th inning to bring their lead to 4, but Transy battled back in the bottom half of the inning and brought the game within a run. Trent Youngblood singled to right center with runners on the corners for an RBI, and a batter later Henry Mitcham earned his 69th and 70th RBI's of the season with a 2 RBI double to the right center gap.

The Pioneers had an opportunity to tie the game or take the lead with bases loaded in the 6th, but the Panthers escaped the inning with the lead. Hanover would add a run in the 7th, and another in the 9th to go up 3 runs heading into the bottom half of the 9th.

Trent Pahl singled to left field with 2 outs in the 9th inning, but Hanover would strikeout the final batter and win the HCAC Championship.

Following the conclusion of the tournament, Trent Youngblood and Calvin Schubert were named to the HCAC All-Tournament team. Youngblood finished the tournament with 7 hits, including a home run, and 4 RBI's. Schubert finished with 9 hits and 4 RBI's.



The Pioneers finish the season with 32 wins, their most since 2021.

The Pioneers will hope to earn the NCAA At Large bid for the NCAA Tournament. Fans can watch the selection show tomorrow at noon to find out if they will make the tournament as an At Large team.