NORTH MANCHESTER, Ind. - The Manchester softball team opened Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference play on Saturday afternoon against the preseason favorites to win the league - the #13 Transylvania Pioneers.

The Spartans hung tough with the Pioneers, as Transylvania edged MU in both games by final scores of 6-0 and 4-2.

Game 1  - #13 Transylvania def. Manchester 6-0  

Game 2 - #13 Transylvania def. Manchester 4-2

Doubleheader Notes:

* First-year pitcher Tori Blough (Huntertown, Ind./Carroll) did a solid job of slowing the Pioneer bats in the first game of Saturday's doubleheader. Blough kept the Pios off the scoreboard until the 4th inning. Transylvania tallied single runs in the 4th and 5th innings, while plating two runs in the 6th and 7th innings.
* TU pitcher Kameron Bowling was dominant in the pitcher's circle, striking out 16 Spartans.
* Game 2 was close the entire contest, with the Spartans leading their nationally-ranked counterpart until the 6th inning. 
* The Black & Gold tallied single runs in the 3rd and 4th frames. Alexis Mokos (Cedar Lake, Ind./Hanover Central) drove in a run with a bloop single down the line in right. An errant play by Transylvania allowed the second Manchester run to score.
* Starting pitcher Lizzie Smith (Indianapolis, Ind./Franklin Central) kept the Pioneer hitters off balance all game until TU broke through for four runs in the top of the 6th inning. The offensive surge was enough to secure the 2-run victory.

Up Next: 

* Manchester will travel to Bluffton on Wednesday, April 7, for a midweek doubleheader against the Beavers. First pitch is scheduled for 3:30 p.m.