RICHMOND, Ind. — The Earlham College baseball team dropped an 8-1 decision on Friday in the opener of a three-game series with Transylvania University in Randal R. Sadler Stadium.

Earlham is now 12-4 overall and 2-3 in the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference.

The Pioneers (5-11, 2-4) got on the scoreboard with a pair of runs in the top of the first frame to set the tone for the contest.

Brandon Smalling knocked in Earlham's run with a single in the first inning to cut the deficit in half.

Transylvania then added another run in the second before scoring five more times in the fourth inning.

Earlham starter Nate Hube (2-1) went three innings as he surrendered five runs on three hits.

John Cornett tossed the rest of the contest and gave up three runs on four hits.

Brennan Laird led the Quakers with two doubles, while Smalling, Nate Lynch, Josh Parr, Eric Elkus and Cody Krumlauf had one each.

The two squads finish the series on Saturday with a doubleheader beginning at noon.