FORT PIERCE, Fla. – The Thiel College baseball team defeated the Western Connecticut State Wolves, 6-4, Sunday afternoon in Fort Pierce, Florida.

After rain delayed the start of the game by 30 minutes, the first five innings turned out to be a pitching duel.

Neither team was able to get a base runner aboard until Thiel did in the bottom of the fourth inning. A Seth Johnson (Magnolia, Ohio/Tuscarawas Valley) single broke the no-hitter, before a Mike Sittig (Monaca, Pa./Central Valley) single moved Johnson to third. A Nathen Prunty (Elyria, Ohio/Keystone) sacrifice fly brought Johnson in to give the Tomcats a 1-0 lead.

Thiel broke the game open in the bottom of the sixth inning, scoring four runs. Sittig brought Aidan Ochs (Rostraver Township, Pa./Belle Veron) home, before back-to-back doubles from Nathen Prunty (Elyria, Ohio/Keystone) and Nick Jacobs (New Castle, Pa./Union) scored two more. Chase Morrison (Monaca, Pa./Central Valley) drove in Jacobs to give Thiel a 5-0 lead.

The Wolves got on the board in the top of the seventh inning, after a sacrifice fly drove in a run.

Thiel scored their final run of the game with a Jacobs single that drove in Sittig.

Western Connecticut State made things interesting in the eighth and ninth frames, scoring two runs in the top of the eighth, and one in the ninth, but the Tomcats held on for the win.

Thiel was led by Sittig who went 3-for-4 with two runs scored. Prunty and Jacobs both drove in two runs, and both went 2-for-4 at the plate.

Nate Lucas (Pittsburgh, Pa./Taylor Allderdice) went 7 2/3 innings, giving up only five hits and two earned runs. He struck out eight, and only walked one. He did not allow a hit until the sixth inning. Brock Matthews (West Sunbury, Pa./Moniteau) made his collegiate debut, pitching 1/3 of an inning in relief, before Ethan Bintrim (New Castle, Pa./Shenango) earned his first save of the season.

Western Connecticut State was led by Peter Coniglio who went 1-for-3 and drove in two runs. Spencer Barnett recorded two RBIs.

Connor Gannon went six innings, giving up eight hits and five runs, striking out five.

The Tomcats return to the diamond on Monday when they play the Earlham Quakers in Fort Pierce, Florida. The non-conference game is scheduled to begin at 1:30 p.m.