Box Score

FORT MYERS, Fla. -- The Thiel College Baseball team was able to hold off a late inning rally by the Blazers of Elms College to earn their first victory of the season by a score of 8-7 on Sunday morning in Fort Myers.

Thiel jumped out to a quick 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning as sophomore short stop Eric King (Butler, Pa., Butler) reached base on a walk and then moved to third on a wild pickoff attempt by the Elms pitcher. King was then brought home on a sacrifice fly by junior outfielder Brock Porter (Duncansville, Pa., Hollidaysburg) to give the Tomcats the one run lead.

Junior second baseman Weston Snyder (Cranesville, Pa., Northwestern) singled to start off the bottom half of the second inning and was quickly brought home on a triple to left center by junior designated hitter Bobby Hillier (Brook Park, Ohio, Midpark). Hillier was then driven in off the bat of sophomore third baseman Ryan Dixon (Pittsburgh, Pa., Upper St. Clair) to make the Thiel lead 3-0.

After holding the Blazers scoreless in the top of the third, Thiel would add two more runs to their lead in the bottom half of the inning. The first run scored by King off a single by senior first baseman Jake Thomas (Canton, Ohio, Massillon Jackson) and the second run came on a sacrifice fly by junior left fielder Phil Double (Evans City, Pa., Seneca Valley) which scored Porter to extend the lead to 5-0.

After adding two more runs off RBIs by senior outfielder Luke Johnson (Rochester, Pa., Rochester) in the fourth and Snyder in the fifth, the Blazers came back in the top of the sixth with a three run blast over the left field fence by Donald Morse.

Before the sixth inning of play, junior pitcher Brad Bates (Kinsman, Ohio, Badger) had only allowed two hits in 5 2/3 innings while striking out six in his first appearance of the season.

After the home run, the Blazers would battle back with another three runs in the seventh inning and one more run in the eighth inning to tie the game at seven.

In the bottom of the eighth inning, Snyder started the frame off with a single. Hillier then came to the plate with the intention to sacrifice. After laying a bunt down the third base line, a great piece of heads up base running allowed Snyder to take third. The Elms first baseman then overthrew third base and Snyder walked home for the go ahead run.

Sophomore pitcher Cody Northcott (Cochranton, Pa., Cochranton) then struck out the side in the top of the ninth to preserve the 8-7 victory for the Tomcats who move to 1-1 on the season.

On offense, Thiel saw a balanced attack from their hitters as seven Tomcats recorded RBIs on the day.

Thiel will be in action again Monday at noon when they play Defiance College.