GREENWOOD, IN- Transylvania University took sole possession of first place in the HCAC standings with a sweep of Bluffton Saturday.  The No. 20 ranked Pioneers (21-7, 4-0 HCAC) won the first game 6-3 and the second 8-0, handing the Beavers (10-13, 8-2 HCAC) their first HCAC losses of the year.

In game one, Transy received another great pitching performance from Kendra DeArk (Jeffersonville, Ind./H.S.).  The junior did not allow an earned run in the contest and allowed six hits and five strikeouts during the complete game win.

Freshman infielder Megan Mitchell (Buck Creek, Ind./William Henry Harrison) delivered two RBI in the win, finishing 1-for-4 with a run scored.

In game two, junior pitcher Olivia Wall (El Campo, Tex./H.S.) tossed a one-hitter as the Pioneers prevailed 8-0.  Wall finished the afternoon with seven strikeouts.

Mitchell hit her ninth home run of the season in the Pioneers four-run third inning.  Mitchell was 1-for-4 with two RBI on the afternoon.

Transylvania remains home for a pair of doubleheaders this weekend as the Pioneers face Defiance Friday and Manchester on Saturday afternoon.  Bluffton faces Ohio Wesleyan and Ursuline in non-league action this week.

In other HCAC action...

Manchester began their conference schedule against Hanover (6-18, 0-8 HCAC) and Rose-Hulman (11-9, 6-2 HCAC) this weekend.  The Spartans (14-11-1, 3-1 HCAC) got off to a solid start with a sweep of the Panthers and a split with Rose.  The black and gold only allowed one run during the weekend of play, with that run coming in a 1-0 loss to RHIT Sunday.  Senior pitcher Kristi Brown (Veersburg, Ind./Attica) won a pair of contests during the week.  In a 7-0 win over Hanover, Brown tossed a complete-game with 11 strikeouts and allowed only three hits to the Panther offense.  Brown added another complete-game shutout in a 1-0 win over Rose-Hulman, allowing six hits with seven strikeouts in the win.  Sophomore Amy Hommema (Indianapolis, Ind./Southport) had a solid weekend against the Panthers and Engineers, going 6-for-12 at the plate with four runs scored, seven RBI, a double, a triple, and two home runs.  Manchester faces Anderson at home today and will close the week on the road against Transylvania and Franklin.

Anderson University currently occupies the fifth spot in the conference standings after posting a sweep over Mount St. Joseph (6-14, 0-6 HCAC) on Saturday.  The Ravens (12-10, 4-2 HCAC) earned a 7-6 win in the first contest and beat the Lions 5-2 in game two.  In the first game, Natalie Moorhouse (Albion, Ind./Central Noble) led the Ravens with three hits and an RBI, including a double. The freshman was also the winning pitcher in relief, allowing two hits and no runs in 2.1 innings with a strikeout. In game two, Andi Ley (Grand Rapids, Mich./East Kentwood) had the game-winning, pinch-hit, two-RBI single in the seventh inning. It was the first career hit for the freshman outfielder.  Anderson travels to Manchester this afternoon in their only league contests this week.

For a complete recap of Week 6 in HCAC Softball, click here