BEAVER FALLS, Pa. – The Thiel College baseball team got its three-game weekend series with Geneva College off to a fantastic start on Friday. The two teams locked horns in a nine-inning game at Geneva, which the Tomcats won by the final score of 10-2.

With the win, the Tomcats' third in their last four games, Thiel's record jumped up to 10-9 overall. The Golden Tornadoes fell to 7-11 for the season. The victory was the Tomcats' most one-sided in Presidents' Athletic Conference play this season, and it got started with a four-run third inning that moved the visiting team ahead 5-0.

The Tomcats utilized some small ball to grab the early lead. Senior second baseman Eric King (Butler, Pa./Butler) doubled and fellow senior left fielder Eric Steininger (West Leechburg, Pa./Leechburg) followed by singling in the game's first run in the first inning.


In the third inning, King singled home a run to make it 2-0 Thiel. After Steininger again singled, first baseman and clean-up hitter Nick Rossmiller (Butler, Pa./Butler) drove in the game's third and fourth run with a two-run double, and the Tomcats picked up their final score of the frame when senior designated hitter Jarod Nanna (Johnstown, Pa./Conemaugh) singled home Rossmiller.

After the Tomcats added a sixth run on a sacrifice fly by sophomore third baseman Trent Mosley (South Euclid, Ohio/Brush) in the top of the fifth, Geneva cut into the lead with a pair of runs in the seventh inning. That was all they could get though, as the home team was shut out for the rest of the game and Thiel cruised to the victory from there with a big four-spot in the eighth.

Thiel put the final touches on the victory with their four-run eighth inning. With two runners on, Steininger smacked a single that moved his team ahead 8-2. Rossmiller again doubled home a run, while Nanna continued the déjà vu feeling for the Golden Tornadoes by singling home the game's final run.

The Tomcats not only out-hit the Tornadoes 16-5, but were helped out by two Geneva errors. That was more than enough offense for the pitching combination of Parker Meyers (Bethel Park, Pa./Bethel Park) and Jaden Nozicka (Portage, Mich./Portage Central). Meyers won his first start in three tries by throwing eight innings, during which he gave up both runs, struck out eight while scattering four hits and three walks. Nozicka tossed the final inning of the game, during which he gave up one hit and struck out one.

King, Steininger, Rossmiller and Nanna led a balanced Thiel offense to victory with three hits each. Eight of the nine Tomcats in the starting lineup registered at least one hit in the win.

The Tomcats return to Greenville tomorrow for a seven-inning doubleheader with Geneva. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m.