LEXINGTON - No. 22 Transylvania Softball defeated Manchester in the opening round of the HCAC Softball Tournament to advance in the winners bracket. The Pioneers made quick work of the Spartans with an 8-0 win in 6 innings.

Carlee Jeter tied her career high in wins with 17 after pitching a complete game, 3 hit shutout. She has now won her last 6 games in the circle while bringing her E.R.A to 1.69 on the season.

Transy's offense strung together 11 hits, with  4 different players earning multiple hits in the win. Reagan Rouleau led the way with a 2-3 performance with 2 singles and 2 RBI's. Ry'Ann Tharp finished 1-2 with 2 RBI's after coming in to pinch hit and play right field in the 2nd inning.

Transylvania put up 3 runs in the 2nd inning to begin the scoring, and added 4 more an inning later. Rouleau's RBI single in the 2nd got things rolling, and a fielder's choice would plate the next runner. Dakota Burke made it 3-0 Transy with a single to left field to score Rouleau.

In the 3rd, Izzy Story doubled down the left field line to score Avery Parsons, and a batter later Emily Sizemore singled to left center to bring in story for the 5-0 lead. Rouleau earned her RBI of the game the next at bat with a single to left field to score Madelyn Gilley. The Pioneers would make it 7-0 after 4 innings with Ry'Ann Tharp's RBI double to score Rouleau.

The Pioneers walked it off in the 6th by mercy rule after Dakota Burke took home on a passed ball. It is the 11th time this season the Pioneers won a game by mercy rule.

Up next: With the win, Transylvania advances to the winners bracket and will play in tomorrow's final game against Franklin at 5:30. A win tomorrow will put the Pioneers in the HCAC Championship game on Saturday for the 7th season in a row.