GREENVILLE, Pa. (April 12) -- The Thiel College Baseball team posted a 12-6 victory over Penn State Altoona Sunday afternoon in non-conference action from Tomcat Park.

The Tomcats rise to 6-22 while the Lions dip to 13-14.

The Cats took advantage of shakey Altoona pitching as Jack Fickes (Jeromesville, Ohio/Hillsdale), Zach Smith (Steubenville, Ohio/Steubenville) and Cole Sherwin (Karns City, Pa./Karns City) all walked to open the fourth inning. Calvin Cackowski (Wickliffe, Ohio/Wickliffe) brought in Fickes with a single to even things at 3 before Joey Schimizzi (Willowick, Ohio/Willoughby South) lobbed a 2-run single to push the Blue and Gold ahead 5-3. Thiel added 3 more runs in the frame on a wild pitch and a pair of sacrifice fly's to lead 8-3.

Schimizzi posted a career-most five RBIs while going 3-for-4. Smith reached base five times and tied the Thiel single-game record with 4 runs scored. Sherwin reached base four times with a hit and three walks while scoring twice. Fickes crossed home three times and had a hit and stolen base each.

Thiel plated 2 runs each in the fifth and sixth as Schimizzi brought in Smith and Fickes with a single in the sixth.

Colton Brightwell (Eighty Four, Pa./Bentworth) had a hit and run each with a pair of free passes. Joey Fell (Warren, Ohio/Champion) reached base three times and had a RBI. Cord Pocza (West Middlesex, Pa./Kennedy Catholic) also logged a hit while JT Gerle (Ambridge, Pa./Ambridge) had a RBI and a walk.

In total, all nine Thiel batters reached base at least once as the Cats drew 12 walks. 

Josh Daum (Tionesta, Pa./North Clarion) started for Thiel and worked two innings with a trio of strikeouts. Dennis Fedele (Hermitage, Pa./Hickory) got the win with 1.1 innings of relief while Brock Matthews (West Sunbury, Pa./Moniteau) recorded a scoreless ninth to seal the win.

Thiel is back in action Tuesday for a conference twinbill against Geneva at 1 p.m. from Tomcat Park. Read Full Article