KOKOMO, Ind. — Transylvania University baseball advanced in the HCAC Tournament with an 11-1 victory over Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology Thursday night at Municipal Stadium.
The Pioneers improved to 27-12 on the season after scoring 11 runs on 11 hits, while Rose-Hulman closed the year at 23-18.
After two scoreless innings, Transylvania broke through with four runs in the third. Nick Pietromonaco opened the inning with a bunt single before Seita Shiratori delivered an RBI single down the right field line. Ethan Dillon later scored on a wild pitch, and Chris Hedinger added an RBI single to push the lead to 4-0.
The Pioneers added two more runs in the fourth inning. Brenton Alcorn doubled home Pietromonaco before Shiratori lifted a sacrifice fly to center field to make it 6-0.
Rose-Hulman scored its lone run in the fifth inning, but Transylvania responded with four runs in the bottom half. Hedinger tripled to right center to start the inning, and Calvin Schubert followed with a two-run double. The Pioneers also scored on a balk and a Rose-Hulman error to extend the lead to 10-1.
Transylvania added one final run in the seventh when Shiratori singled through the left side to score Max Finn and complete the 11-1 win.
Shiratori led the offense by going 3-for-3 with three RBIs and a walk. Hedinger finished 2-for-4 with a triple and RBI, while Alcorn went 2-for-2 with a double, RBI and two runs scored. Pietromonaco added two hits and scored twice, and Schubert drove in two runs.
Drew Bowles earned the complete-game victory on the mound, allowing just one run on three hits while striking out seven over seven innings.
Up next, #2 Transylvania will face #1 Earlham on Friday, May 8 at 4:30 p.m. in the HCAC Tournament.
Transylvania University is a proud member of the NCAA Division III and the HCAC. To keep up to date with all of the Transylvania Athletics, check out our website at transysports.com and follow @TransySports on Instagram.
