PITTSBURGH, Pa. – The Thiel Tomcats split a doubleheader Sunday on the road against the La Roche Redhawks. Thiel won the first game 2-1 but suffered an 8-7 loss in the second game.
 
After four and a half scoreless innings in Game 1, the Redhawks eked out the first run in the bottom of the fifth. The Tomcats came back in their next at-bat, scoring the only two runs they would need to win the contest.
 
With the bases loaded and one out in the top of the sixth inning, Cara Baker (Corry, Pa./Corry Area) came off the bench to notch an RBI when she grounded out. Amanda Callahan (Austintown, Ohio/Austintown Fitch) followed with an infield single to bring home what would eventually count as the game-winning run.
 
Callahan earn the win, her third of the season. She tossed a complete game, allowing one run on three hits with eight strikeouts and four walks.
 
The Tomcats outhit the Redhawks 7-3 in the first game.
 
Thiel scored the first run in the second game but trailed La Roche 5-1 after two innings. Thiel went on to tie up the game 5-5 after scoring a pair of runs in the third and fifth innings.
 
Madison Cheek (Milan, Ohio/Milan-Edison) provided Thiel's runs in the third inning when she hit a two-out, two-run homer. Baker came up with the key hit in the fifth, a two-RBI double to left field.
 
The Redhawks scored three runs in the bottom of the sixth to take the lead 8-5. Trailing by three runs, the Tomcats made things interesting in their last at-bat in the top of the seventh. Alexa Fike (Export, Pa./Franklin Regional) and A.J. Corradi (Youngstown, Ohio/Austintown Fitch) led off the inning with back-to-back singles. Fike and Corradi both came around to score, but the Redhawks preserved the win when Thiel's last batter grounded out to second base.
 
Brianna Flynn (Clark, Pa./Sharpsville) suffered the loss. In four innings of relief, she allowed three runs on three hits. She struck out six batters and allowed three free passes.
 
Corradi led Thiel in Game 2 with a 3-for-4 performance at the plate. She also scored four runs. Cheek and Baker also had two hits and two RBIs apiece. The Tomcats outhit the Redhawks 11-6 in the second contest. La Roche committed four errors while Thiel had three miscues.
 
The Tomcats (7-5) are scheduled to travel to Meadville, Pa. Thursday to face the Allegheny Gators in a non-conference doubleheader. The first game is slated to begin at 3 p.m.