HIRAM, Ohio - Bolstered by a three-run fifth inning, Hiram College defeated Thiel College, 10-6 in Thursday's non-conference baseball action.

The Terriers improve to 10-16 on the season, while the Tomcats lost their third straight and fall to 17-13.

Thiel jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Center fielder Doug Farley (Linesville, Pa./Linesville) led the game off by reaching on an error by the third baseman. He promptly stole second, and advanced to third on a flare single by second baseman Eric King (Butler, Pa./Butler). Left fielder Eric Steininger (West Leechburg, Pa./Leechburg) drove Farley in from third on a RBI-groundout.

Hiram fired back in the bottom of the second, scoring three runs on five hits to take a 3-1 lead.

The Tomcat offense answered with three runs of their own in the top of the third, as the top of the lineup was again the catalyst of the run production. Eric King (Butler, Pa./Butler) led the inning off with a walk, and later scored on a RBI-double by Steininger. After designated hitter Trent Smith (Franklin, Pa./Franklin) reached on an error by the pitcher, right fielder Nick Schiavoni (Boiling Spring, Pa./Trinity) lifted the ball to left field for the second out of the inning, allowing Steininger to tag from third and tie the game 3-3. Third baseman Trent Mosley (South Euclid, Ohio/Brush) and shortstop Cody Trinch (Franklin, Pa./Franklin) ripped back-to-back singles, as Trinch's single scored Smith to give Thiel a 4-3 lead.

After both sides put up scoreless frames in the fourth, the Terriers took the lead for good in the bottom of the fifth, manufacturing three runs on four hits.

Hiram added four more runs in the bottom of the seventh, increasing their lead to 10-4 with four runs on four hits.

Thiel added a run in the eighth, and scored another on a solo home run by Steininger in the ninth, his second of the season, but it was too little, too late for the Tomcats.

Steininger finished the day 2-for-5 with two runs scored and three RBIs. Trinch went 3-for-4 with a RBI, while King and first baseman Nick Rossmiller (Butler, Pa./Butler) each went 2-for-4.

Reliever Jaden Nozicka (Portage, Mich./Portage Central) was tagged with the loss, as he threw two and two third innings, allowing three runs on six hits while striking out two. Nozicka was one of five Tomcat pitchers used in the matchup.

Thiel returns to action on Saturday, when they travel to New Wilmington, Pa. to take on Westminster College in a Presidents' Athletic Conference doubleheader. First pitch is set for 1 p.m.