LATROBE, PA. (April 22, 2010) – The Thiel College softball team split their Thursday doubleheader against the Saint Vincent College Bearcats, picking up the victory in game one, 5-4, and dropping game two, 1-4.

In game one, the Tomcats struck first, tallying four runs in the first inning, led by RBI singles from Melissa Rankin (Scenery Hill, Pa./Bentworth), Ashley McLimans (Orchard Park, NY/Hamburg), and Elise Moore (Apollo, PA/Kiski).

Thiel starting pitcher, Ashley McLimans (Orchard Park, NY/Hamburg), kept the Bearcats at bay, throwing three no-hit innings before Saint Vincent finally caught up to the senior flamethrower in fourth, tallying two runs on four hits. 

In the bottom half of the inning, Tomcat senior, Stephanie Smith (Pittsburgh, PA/North Allegheny), pushed the Thiel lead back to three with an RBI single.

The Bearcats continued their momentum from the fourth, however, tallying two more runs, bringing the Tomcat lead to a single run.

To stop the bleeding, Tomcat pitcher, Emily Batiz (Leechburg, Pa./Leechburg Area) entered the contest and shutout Saint Vincent during the final two innings, closing the door on the Bearcat rally and picking up her first save of the season.

McLimans picked up the victory, going five innings, allowing four earned runs on seven hits, while striking out three.

Junior catcher, Rankin, led the Tomcats offensively going 3-for-4 at the dish, tallying an RBI and a run scored, while McLimans and Smith each notched a pair of hits and an RBI.

The game one victory improved Tomcat softball's record to 11-2 when scoring the run first of the contest.

The Tomcat offense sputtered during game two, tallying a single run on five hits, while the Bearcats scored four runs on nine hits.

Thiel College softball returns to action on Saturday, April 24, when the Bethany College Bison come to Greenville, Pa. for a doubleheader match up that begins at 1 p.m.