FORT MYERS, Fla. – The Thiel College baseball team defeated the Alvernia Golden Wolves, 11-10, in a thriller Tuesday at Terry Park in the Gene Cusic Classic.
The two teams remained close early as the Tomcats held a 2-1 lead after three innings. The Golden Wolves had two big innings, a four-run fifth and a five-run seventh, to take what seemed like a commanding 10-2 lead.
However, the Tomcats refused to roll over. In the bottom half of the seventh, the Tomcats had a huge inning of their own. After three-straight singles to lead off the inning,
Trey Williams (Jeromesville, Ohio/Hillsdale) cleared the bases with a grand slam and suddenly the Tomcats were in striking distance. The inning was not done, however, as the Tomcats added another run on an RBI-single by
Chase Morrison (Monaca, Pa./Central Valley) and two more runs on a two-RBI, two-out double by
Seth Johnson (Magnolia, Ohio/Tuscarawas Valley), his second hit of the frame.
Thiel batted around in the seventh inning and tallied nine consecutive hits. In all, the Tomcats scored seven runs on 10 hits in the seventh and cut down the lead to 10-9.
In the eighth,
Alex Lutz (Loveland, Ohio/Milford) and the Tomcats' defense blanked the Golden Wolves. In the Tomcats' half,
Nick Jacobs (New Castle, Pa./Union) scored the tying run on a balk. In the ninth inning, Lutz got two quick outs, let up a single, but stranded the runner with a strikeout. In the bottom of the ninth with two outs, bases empty, and the game still tied 10-10, Johnson crushed a ball that carried over the left field fence for a walk-off home run to complete the Tomcats' comeback in the 11-10 victory.
Johnson tallied four hits on the day including a double and home run. He collected three RBIs and scored three runs. Williams, Jacobs, and Morrison each tallied three hits. Williams notched the Tomcats' other home run and led the game with four RBIs. Morrison and Jacobs tallied a run and an RBI apiece.
Anthony Rago (Pittsburgh, Pa./Baldwin) scored two runs in the contest.
On the mound, starting pitcher
Richard Crooks (Milan, Ohio/Edison) pitched six innings and struck out three. Lutz earned the win in 2.1 shutout innings of relief with two strikeouts, no walks, and just one hit allowed. In two games so far, Lutz has one win, one save, and seven strikeouts in 5.1 innings.
For Alvernia, Lucas Floyd went 4-for-4 with two doubles, a triple, two RBIs and a run. Starter Josh Kreider threw six innings. Reliever Christian Burrus was charged with the loss.
The Tomcats will look to keep momentum going as they take on the Rockford Regents at Terry Park Wednesday at noon.
