Box Score

FORT MYERS, Fla. – Trailing 2-1 after seven innings Western Connecticut State University used a seven-run eighth inning to beat the Tomcat baseball squad Saturday morning at the Gene Cusic Collegiate Classic.

Dan Gainey (Girard, Ohio/Girard) and Eric Steininger (West Leechburg, Pa./Leechburg) each had a RBI in the Tomcats' two-run second, but Conor Bierdfeldt answered with a sacrifice fly in the top of the third to pull the Colonials to within one, 2-1.

Thiel (5-6) kept its lead until the top of the eighth when Western would send 12 batters to the plate and score seven in the frame to assume an 8-2 lead.

The Tomcats added their third run of the contest on a two-out, bases-loaded walk to Doug Farley (Linesville, Pa./Linesville) in the ninth to close out the scoring at 8-3.

Weston Snyder (Cranesville, Pa./Northwestern) was 2-for-4 with a stolen base while Farley went 1-for-3 with a RBI, a run scored and two stolen bases. Steininger went 1-for-4 with a RBI to extend his hit streak to 10 games.

Kyle Mohr (Erie, Pa./Mercyhurst Prep) suffered the loss for Thiel in relief of starter Alex Yoder (Canton, Ohio/St. Thomas Aquinas). Mohr allowed five runs (4 earned) on four hits in 2.0 innings. Yoder tossed the first 5.1 innings and gave up one run (1 earned) on two hits.

Rob Valunas earned the victory in relief of Colonials starter Derik Brady. Valunas limited the Tomcats to one run on four hits in 7.1 innings of work.

Mike Yates and Chris Smith each collected a pair of hits for Western (2-2).

Thiel returns to action on Wednesday, March 21 at Hiram College. The single nine-inning contest is scheduled to get underway at 3:30 p.m.