(WASHINGTON, Pa.) - The seconded-seeded Thomas More College baseball team used a seven-run third inning to defeat third-seeded Bethany College, 14-5, today (Thursday, May 8, 2014) in the opening game of the Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) Championship Tournament hosted by Washington & Jefferson College at Ross Memorial Park in Washington, Pennsylvania.

With the win, the Saints improve to 21-17 and advance to the winner's bracket finals at 12 p.m. tomorrow. The Saints will play the winner of today's second game, which features top-seeded Washington & Jefferson and fourth-seeded Waynesburg University. With the loss, the Bison fall to 19-16 and will play the loser of the Washington & Jefferson and Waynesburg game in a 3 p.m. elimination game tomorrow.

Thomas More and Bethany matched single runs in the first and second and with the game tied at 2-2, the Saints plated seven runs in the bottom of the third innings to build a 9-2 lead. Thomas More went onto plate three runs in the fifth and two in the eighth, while holding Bethany to two runs in the sixth and one in the ninth for the 14-5 victory.

Freshman pitcher Vic Newberry (Independence, Ky./Simon Kenton) earned the win on the mound as he pitched six innings and gave up four runs (three earned) on six hits, while walking one. Sophomore pitcher Chris Auer (Cincinnati, Ohio/Elder) pitched two scoreless innings of relief and gave up two hits, while striking out one and freshman pitcher Ken Ruberg (Cincinnati, Ohio/LaSalle) pitched one inning of relief and gave up one run (earned) on one hit.

Senior shortstop/second baseman Tyler Graber (Plain City, Ohio/Jonathan Alder) led the Saints at the plate as he was three-for-three with three runs batted-in and two runs scored. Three other Saints had multiple hits in the game as senior second baseman/left fielder Jason Handley (Cincinnati, Ohio/Oak Hills) was three-for-five with two RBI and two runs scored, senior third baseman Travis Miller (Erlanger, Ky./St. Henry) was two-for-five with a double, four RBI and two runs scored and senior first baseman Craig Hyson (Cincinnati, Ohio/McNicholas) was two-for-four with a double, a RBI and one run scored.