ANDERSON, Ind. – Transylvania built a 3-0 after seven and a half innings Friday and held on for a 3-2 decision over Heartland Conference leading Anderson in the opener of a key three-game baseball series.

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The Pioneers are 14-6 on the season, 5-3 HCAC, while the Ravens are 16-6, 6-2. Anderson came into play tied with Manchester for the conference lead and had won six consecutive games.

The Pioneers took a 2-0 advantage in the sixth with Evan Rhea and Kevin Brinkman getting the RBI.

Transy made it 3-0 in the top of the eighth when Thomas Tolliver led off with a walk and came around to score on a pair of ground outs and an Anderson error.

Transy pitchers Chris Bloch (3-0) and Danny Niehaus, who recorded his fourth save, combined to stop the Ravens on 10 hits. Bloch went eight innings and gave up eight hits and one earned run, fanning four and walking two. Niehaus pitched the ninth and gave up a run on two hits.

Ryan Troehler had two hits for the Pioneers and Thomas Tolliver scored a pair of runs.

The two teams will meet Saturday in a doubleheader, beginning at noon.