LEXINGTON, KY. – Manchester University and Transylvania University opened their Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference series with a white-knuckler at Marquard Field Friday, March 29.

The host Pioneers (9-7 overall, 3-1 HCAC) scored a pair of runs on back-to-back singles in the bottom of the ninth to earn a 3-2 win. The loss sent the No. 16-ranked D3Baseball.com and No. 22-ranked Division III American Baseball Coaches Association Spartans to 13-3-1 and 3-1 in the league.

MU held a pair of one-score leads in the contest. Sophomore infielder Trevor Kimm (Anderson, Ind.) plated a run in the top of the first with a single, while sophomore outfielder Kyle Norris (Indianapolis, Ind.) drove a double to right field that scored a run to break up a 1-1 tie in the sixth. They had chances to add to the advantage, putting runners in scoring position in the seventh, eighth and ninth frames, but couldn't convert.

Kimm topped the offense with three hits, a double and a run scored. Manchester University also received a strong starting pitching effort from junior Dylan Padgett (Kirklin, Ind.). He went seven innings, striking out five and allowing only one run on six hits.

The series resumes Saturday, March 30, with a 12 p.m. start for two nine-inning games.