ERIE, Pa. – The Thiel College baseball team outslugged the Penn St.-Behrend Lions 12-8 in a non-conference matchup in Erie, Pa on Tuesday.

The Tomcats had 16 hits in the victory, compared to 11 hits by the Lions. The Tomcats also slugged six doubles and all of the starters recorded at least one hit. 

The Tomcats struck first with two runs in the top of the first when Trent Smith doubled home Matt Elko and Josh Doody followed with a RBI groundout that scored Dan Koller from third base.

After the Lions took the lead in the third inning, the Tomcats regained the advantage behind a four-run fourth inning and a five-run fifth inning.

Smith opened the scoring in the fourth when he stole home as Doody stole second during a rundown. Bryan Mitchell brought everyone home later in the fourth inning with the bases loaded with a two-out, two-bagger that scored Doody, Nick Grice and Drew Dellert. 

The Tomcats did their damage with two outs in the top of the fifth. Genco, Grice and Trent Mosley each notched RBI singles while Dellert had a RBI double in the inning. Mitchell recorded a two RBI double down the left field line that plated Dellert and Grice. 

The Tomcats tacked on more insurance in the top of the seventh when Grice scored from second on a fielding error by the Lion shortstop.

Mitchell had five runs batted in; tying his career-high set a year and a day ago against D'Youville. Mitchell, Elko, Koller, Smith and Doody each went 2-for-5 in the victory while Grice went 2-for-4 with three runs scored. Dellert and Doody each crossed the plate twice for the Tomcats.

Riley Schwertz pitched six innings to pick up his first victory of the season. Schwertz struck out four while only allowing one walk. Tanner Teconchuk struck out two Lions in three innings of relief.

The Tomcats (8-3) will return home to host the Mount Aloysius Mounties in a non-conference doubleheader on Saturday, March 26. The first game is slated to begin at 1 p.m.