BETHANY, W.Va. – The Tomcat baseball team was plagued by five errors as they were defeated by Bethany College by a score of 8-6 on Friday afternoon in Bethany, W. Va.

Bethany Jumped on the Tomcats early in the contest, as they struck for five runs in the first three innings of play.

Thiel then came back in the top of the fourth inning as they registered five runs in the frame. Billy Roosa (Salamanca, N.Y./Ellicottville) started things off in the fourth with his fourth home run of the season to cut the Bison lead to 5-1. After a double, Brock Porter (Duncansville, Pa./Hollidaysburg) then scored on an error off the bat of Ryan Dixon (Pittsburgh, Pa./Upper St. Clair) to make the score 5-2. After back-to-back singles by Cody Trinch (Franklin, Pa./Franklin) and Doug Farley (Linesville, Pa./Linesville) loaded the bases, Eric King (Butler, Pa./Butler) knocked in Dixon and Trinch to cut the Bison lead to one at 5-4. Eric Steininger (West Leechburg, Pa./Leechburg) then chased in Farley to tie the contest at five.

After Bethany scored one in the bottom of the fifth inning to retake the lead, Thiel tied the game once again on a home run, this time a solo shot by Dixon to tie the game 6-6.

It was the Bison, however, that would score last in the contest as they drove in two runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to take the first game of the three-game series 8-6.

In the game, the Tomcats were led by Doug Farley (Linesville, Pa./Linesville) who was the only player with multiple hits in the game as he went 2-for-4 in the contest.

Thiel and Bethany will return to action on Saturday May 5 for a double header at Tomcat Park in Greenville. The senior day contests will begin at 1 p.m. with senior recognition beginning at 12:30.