Box Score

Fort Myers, Fla. – The Tomcat baseball squad opened its spring break with a 19-13 victory over Ohio Northern University Saturday morning at Terry Park.

The Tomcats' 22 hits were the most since registering 26 in a 23-9 win over Geneva College on April 30, 2010.
Ryan Dixon (Pittsburgh, Pa./Upper St. Clair) paced the Thiel (2-1) offense, finishing 3-for-4 with a pair of doubles and a career-best five RBI, two runs scored and a stolen base.

Eric Steininger (West Leechburg, Pa./Leechburg) led a trio of Tomcats to finish with four hits, going 4-for-5 with a home run, three RBI and a pair of runs scored. Weston Snyder (Cranesville, Pa./Northwestern) finished 4-for-5 and four runs scored, while Brock Porter (Duncansville, Pa./Hollidaysburg) went 4-for-6 with two RBI and two runs scored.

Brad Bates (Kinsman, Ohio/Badger) got the start for Thiel and allowed seven runs (6 earned) on 12 hits in 5.1 innings. Cody Northcott (Cochranton, Pa./Cochranton) earned the win in relief, giving up six runs (4 earned) on six hits in 2.0 innings, while Alex Yoder (Canton, Ohio/St. Thomas Aquinas) threw 1.2 scoreless innings to secure the win.

Matt Hampshire led the Polar Bears (3-8), going 4-for-6 with a double, a home run, two RBI and two runs scored. Dan Belliveau finished 3-for-5 with a triple, home run, three RBI and a pair of runs scored. Austin Price suffered the loss for ONU, allowing eight runs (4 ER) on 10 hits in 4.2 innings.

ONU's five-run sixth inning gave them a 9-8 lead going into the bottom of the frame. The Tomcats scratched out for runs on three hits to
jump back in front 12-9 but saw the Polar Bears add two more runs in the seventh to pull back to within one, 12-11.

Steininger's two-run home run kicked off a six-run seventh inning in which seven-straight Tomcats reached base and pushed Thiel's lead to 18-11.

Thiel is back on the diamond on Sunday, March 11 when it takes on Salve Regina University. First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m. at the Player Development Complex in Ft. Myers.