FORT MYERS, Fla. – The Thiel College baseball team opened the 2020 season Sunday at the Gene Cusic Classic in Fort Myers, Fla. with a 12-3 win over the Rivier Raiders.
 
Andrew Giesey (Penn, Pa./Penn Trafford) staked the Tomcats to a 2-0 lead in the second inning when he blasted a two-run homer over the right center field fence. Thiel added another run in the third frame and plated six runs in the fourth to take a commanding 9-1 lead.
 
Giesey got the Tomcats started in the fourth with another home run, this one a solo shot, to right center field. Christian Aldrich (Cranberry Township, Pa./Central Catholic) had the other key hit in the fourth inning, a two-RBI single to right field.
 
Giesey went 2-for-3 on the day with two home runs and three RBIs. Aldrich went 3-for-5 while Anthony Rago (Pittsburgh, Pa./Baldwin) hit a pair of singles.
 
Corey Cochran and Devin Albino paced the Raiders with two hits apiece.
 
Sante Carducci (Toronto, Ohio/Toronto) earned the win. He allowed two runs on five hits with six strikeouts in five innings of work. Daniel White took the loss. He allowed six runs, five of which were earned, on five hits while issuing four walks.
 
The Tomcats will take on the Otterbein Cardinals Monday at noon.