AUBURNDALE, Fla. – The No. 22 Thiel College baseball team found itself in a four-run hole after a half inning of play Friday against Ohio Northern University. Another half inning and five runs later, Thiel took the lead and would not trail again, en route to a, 12-8, victory over the Polar Bears.

A strong start by Cory Borland (Uniontown, Pa./Laurel Highlands) and error-free defense ended up being the difference in what was a close game through six innings. Borland improved to 2-0 with his seven-inning, four-strikeout performance.

Thiel's first five batters of the game came around to score, but only three of those reached with a hit. Leadoff man Ryan Oldfield (Akron, Ohio/St. Vincent-St. Mary) drew a walk and advanced to third on a Chad Ulogar (Willoughby, Ohio/South) single. Eric Boylan (McKees Rocks/Sto Rox) reached on a catcher interference call to load the bases.

It wouldn't last long.

Justin Scarpitti (Erie, Pa./Cathedral Prep.) and Chris Dunham (Conneaut Lake, Pa./Linesville) used a single and a double, respectively, to drive in two runs apiece. Dunham scored two batters later when Matt Stumpf (McKees Rocks, Pa./Sto Rox) flied out to left.

Northern Ohio scored a run in the top of the third, but Thiel got it back in their half of the inning when Andrew Howard (Olney, Md./Sherwood) doubled and scored on a Stumpf base knock.

Pitching took over in the middle three innings and the top of the seventh before the Thiel offense went off for six more runs.

Ten Thiel batters came to the plate in the inning which was, once again, keyed by Stumpf, who drove in his fourth and fifth runs of the day. Scarpitti doubled in his third RBI of the day to cap off a 2-for-5 day.

The Polar Bears scored three runs in the top of the ninth before reliever Brad Bates (Kinsman, Ohio/Badger) induced a game-ending fly-out to right.

Ulogar and Howard each enjoyed three-for five days at the plate.  In addition to Scarpitti, Dunham and Stumpf each had two.

Thiel (6-1) wraps up its Florida trip on Saturday when they take on Curry (Mass.) College at 9:15 a.m. at Chain O' Lakes in Winter Haven, Fla.