LATROBE, Pa. – The Thiel College baseball team was defeated by a score of 14-12 by Saint Vincent College in the first game of a three-game series on Friday in Latrobe. The Bearcats were lifted past Thiel by scoring runs in bulk as all of their 14 runs came in just three innings.

The Tomcats struck first in the top of the second inning as they plated two runs in the frame. Junior Weston Snyder (Cranesville, Pa., Northwestern) scored the first run as he was drove in by senior Jake Thomas (Canton, Ohio, Massillon Jackson). Sophomore Eric Steininger (West Leechburg, Pa., Leechburg) added the second run of the game on a RBI single which drove in junior Brock Porter (Duncansville, Pa., Hollidaysburg) to make the score 2-0. The Tomcats would then expand the lead to 3-0 in the top of the third as junior Bobby Hillier (Brook Park, Ohio, Midpark) scored on a wild pitch.

The Bearcats would come right back in the bottom of the third inning as they came back with a three-run inning. Saint Vincent took advantage of two wild pitches to plate two of their runs and added the third on a RBI single to tie the game at three.

Thiel would jump right back into the lead as they scored in three consecutive innings. The Tomcats added one run in the top of the fourth, and two runs in both the fifth and sixth innings. The scoring was highlighted by a two-run single off the bat of Porter in the sixth that made the score 8-3.

Saint Vincent would once again answer with a huge inning as they plated five runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to once again tie the game, this time at eight apiece.

Thiel would again have an answer as they took the lead again with two runs in the top of the seventh inning. An RBI singles by Steininger and sophomore Derek Kreitzer (Kane, Pa., Smethport) gave the Tomcats the 10-8 lead.

Saint Vincent would have one more big inning in them as they scored six runs in the bottom of the seventh highlighted by a home-run by Zack Galasso to give the Bearcats the lead for the first time in the day 14-10.

Thiel could only muster two-runs between the eighth and ninth innings and the Bearcats went on to defeat Thiel 14-12.

Offensively, the Tomcats showed a balanced attack at the plate as they had four different players drove in two runs apiece including Steininger, junior Luke Johnson (Rochester, Pa., Rochester), Hillier, and Porter.

Day two of the three-game series which was scheduled for Saturday April 16 has been moved to Sunday April 17 due to impending weather conditions. The double-header will begin at 1 p.m. at Tomcat Park in Greenville.