GREENVILLE, Pa. – The Thiel College baseball team split a non-conference doubleheader on Saturday against the John Carroll Blue Streaks in the 2016 home opener at Tomcat Park.
The Tomcats walked off with a 3-2 victory in the first game of the doubleheader against the Blue Streaks. Thiel got out to an early 2-0 lead in the first four innings. In the first, Dan Koller scored Bryan Mitchell from third base on a RBI groundout to second base. Josh Doody scored Koller from third base on a sacrifice fly to center field in the bottom of the fourth.
After the Blue Streaks tied up the game at two in the top of the seventh inning, the Tomcats loaded the bases in the bottom of the seventh with no outs. Matt Elko hit a walk-off sacrifice fly to left field that brought home Nick Grice to score the game-winning run and give the Tomcats the victory.
Tanner Teconchuk picked up his second win of the season in relief of Elko. Elko ended up with a no-decision in the first game after pitching six shutout innings. Elko struck out six batters and only gave up four hits.
The Tomcats were unable to get anything going in the second game of the doubleheader against the Blue Streaks, falling 9-2.
Bryan Mitchell scored the first Tomcat run of the second game in the bottom on a dropped third strike that the Blue Streak catcher threw away into the outfield.
Grice recorded the lone RBI in the game for the Tomcats in the second game in the bottom of sixth when he reached on a fielder's choice that allowed Doody to score from third.
The Tomcats (7-3) will travel to Erie to take on the Penn State Behrend Lions on Wednesday, March 23. First pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m.