The Thiel College baseball team ran its record to 4-1 on the young season with a wild 12-11 win over Dominican University in Fort Myers, Florida. The game went back and forth throughout and would eventually come down to the final at bat.

After Dominican got the scoring started in the top half of the first on a sacrifice fly, the Tomcats responded by scoring three runs in the bottom of the 2nd inning. Junior second baseman Weston Snyder (Cranesville, Pa., Northwestern) got things started with a sharp single, followed by a double by senior first baseman Jake Thomas (Canton, Ohio, Massillon Jackson). Sophomore left fielder Eric Steininger (West Leechburg, Pa., Leechburg) chased both of them home with an RBI double. After a walk to sophomore designated hitter Nick Ferracano (New Kensington, Pa., Plum), sophomore shortstop Eric King (Butler, Pa., Butler) delivered an RBI single to push the Thiel lead to 3-1 after two innings.

Dominican would plate the next four runs of the game, adding a run in the top half of the 3rd before adding three runs in the top half of the 6th. Thiel senior pitcher James Teyssier (McKees Rocks, Pa., Montour) would leave the game during the 6th, pitching 5 2/3 innings while striking out eight and allowing five runs on seven hits. Thiel would answer in the bottom half of the 6th, exploding for five runs on four hits in the inning. It was highlighted by junior catcher Brock Porter (Duncansville, Pa., Hollidaysburg)'s double in the left centerfield gap, which plated 2 RBIs. The Tomcats would also score a run in the bottom half of the 7th inning on a King sacrifice fly, increasing the lead to 9-5 in favor of the Tomcats.

The Stars would not go away though, fighting back to plate four runs in the top half of the 8th inning to knot the game at 9. The Stars would also push across a run in the top half of the 9th inning to give themselves a 10-9 lead heading into the bottom half of the inning. The Tomcats would not go away as senior centerfielder Luke Johnson (Rochester, Pa., Rochester) worked a one out walk and was able to move to 3rd base following an errant pick-off attempt by the Dominican pitcher. He eventually would score on a sacrifice fly by junior right fielder Phil Double (Evans City, Pa., Seneca Valley) to send the game to extra innings.

The tenth inning would go scoreless before Dominican added a run in the top half of the 11th to make the score 11-10. As they had done all day, Thiel answered the challenge once again in the bottom half of the frame. Johnson drew a one out walk, and King would follow by reaching on a throwing error by the shortstop. After an intentional walk to Porter with 2 outs to load the bases, junior third baseman Bobby Hillier (Brook Park, Ohio, Midpark) lofted a high fly ball that dropped in the outfield scoring both Johnson and King to give the Tomcats the one run victory.

Hillier led the way for the Tomcats offensively, going 3-7 with three RBIs in the game. He also pitched the 11th inning and was able to collect the win on the mound, the first of his collegiate career. King, Porter, Double, Steininger, would all collect two hits on the afternoon as the Tomcats pounded out 16 total for the game. Thiel's offense was also bolstered by eight stolen bases on the day.

The Tomcats will return to action Thursday evening at Terry Park, where they will take on Newbury College. First pitch is scheduled for 5:00 p.m.

Be sure to check out the team's spring break blog as well, where sophomore shortstop Eric King (Butler, Pa./Butler) will be tonight's guest at tomcatathletics.blogspot.com.