WAYNESBURG, Pa. — The Tomcat baseball team split a pair of games with Presidents' Athletic Conference foe Waynesburg University on Thursday in Waynesburg. The Tomcats were defeated in game one 5-4 and took game two by a score of 7-0.

The Tomcats were defeated in game one of the double-header by a score of 5-4.

After Thiel got on the board first in the top of the first inning on a sacrifice fly from sophomore Derek Kreitzer (Kane, Pa./Smethport), the Yellow Jackets came right back with a five run inning in the bottom of the second inning. Six hits in the inning accounted for the five runs headlined by a RBI double by Corey Googleman.

The Tomcats would come back with one run in the sixth inning on sophomore Jarod Nanna (Johnstown, Pa./Conemaugh)'s second home-run in as many days to make the score 5-2. Thiel would also plate two runs in the top of the seventh as juniors Phil Double (Evans City, Pa./Seneca Valley) ad Bobby Hillier (Brook Park, Ohio/Midpark) added RBIs but the Tomcats fell short on the comeback trail and were defeated in game one 5-4.

Offensively, the Tomcats were paced by Double, Nanna and junior Brock Porter (Duncansville, Pa./Hollidaysburg) who each tallied two hits. Nanna and Double also recorded RBIs in the first game.

Great pitching helped the Tomcats turn their fortunes around in game two of the double-header as Thiel blanked the Yellow Jackets 7-0.

The Tomcats once again jumped on the Yellow Jackets early as back-to-back RBI doubles by Double and Porter gave Thiel the quick 2-0 lead. The scoring marks the 16th time that the Tomcats have scored first (12-4).

Thiel would then go on to add two runs in the bottom of the fourth inning on RBI singles by sophomore Eric Steininger (West Leechburg, Pa./Leechburg) and junior Weston Snyder (Cranesville, Pa./Northwestern) to make the score 4-0. They would then add three more runs in the bottom of the fifth inning On RBI hits by Snyder and senior Jake Thomas (Canton, Ohio/Massillon Jackson) as well as a sacrifice by short stop Eric King (Butler, Pa./Butler) to make the score 7-0.

On the mound, junior Brad Bates (Kinsman, Ohio/Badger) had one of the more dominate performances on the mound for a Tomcat pitcher this season. Bates threw a complete game two-hit shutout while striking out 10 Yellow Jackets, including six straight strikeouts between the second and third innings, to pick up his fourth victory on the season.

With the victory, Bates drops his ERA to 1.69 on the season, which ranks him second in the Presidents' Athletic Conference. The 10 strikeouts are also the most by a Tomcat on the season.

Thiel will be back in action for game three of the three-game series with the Yellow Jackets on Saturday at Tomcat Park. The nine-inning contest is scheduled for a one p.m. start time.