After seeing Thiel College score nine runs over the final two innings to take the opener 9-6, the Bearcats regrouped to defeat the Tomcats 5-1 in the nightcap behind a stellar effort on the mound from Paul Kubeja.

In the opener, the Bearcats got on the board first, taking a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second.  Joe Aul doubled, and moved to third after Erik Fichter reached on an error.  Mike Hustava then flied out to center, plating Aul and giving SVC the early cushion.

Saint Vincent continued to add onto its lead in the opener, scoring two more times in the bottom of the fifth.  Danny Jackson and Steve Bayko each walked, and were followed by back-to-back RBI singles from Adam Miller and Aul to put the Bearcats in front 3-0.

Thiel then responded in a big way, sending 12 men to the plate in the top of the sixth and scoring seven runs on seven hits, with the big blow a three-run homer from Wes Snyder.

The Bearcats attempted to chip away at the late deficit, scoring two runs in the home half of the sixth, with RBI singles from Bayko and pinch hitter Dustin Loussedes.

Thiel came back to score twice in the top of the seventh, going up 9-5, before the Bearcats attempted one last comeback in the home half.  Aul and Fichter hit back-to-back singles to lead off, with Aul scoring on a single from pinch hitter Grant Krally.  It was as close as the hosts would get, however, as Thiel managed to enduce a ground ball double play to end the game.

Darren Smith started on the mound for SVC and took the loss, working 5 1/3 innings and giving up five runs (four earned) on seven hits, with three strikeouts.

Nine different players recorded at least one hit for the Bearcats in the opener, led by Aul's 3-for-4 showing and Bayko's 2-for-3 performance. 

Thiel's James Tessier earned the win, working 5 2/3 innings and giving up five runs (four earned) on eight hits with three strikeouts.  The Tomcats pounded out 13 hits in the win, led by three from Snyder.

In the nightcap, the Bearcats again started well, taking a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first, as Jackson led off with a walk, advanced to second on a Burkardt sacrifice bunt, and scored on a Zack Galasso RBI single.  

SVC added two more runs in the bottom of the second.  Loussedes and Jack Shaffer began the frame with back-to-back singles, before Bush walked to load the bases.  Jackson followed by reaching on a fielder's choice, scoring Loussedes, before the Bearcats executed a perfect double steal, with Jackson taking second and Shaffer home to make the score 3-0 SVC.

In the fourth, the Bearcats scored once more, as Aul led off with a single and stole second.  Shaffer and Bush were each walked, before Aul was able to cross the plate on a wild pitch to give the Bearcats the four-run cushion.

Thiel scored once in the fifth, when Eric King scored on a Justin Scarpitti double, and the Tomcats threatened again in the six, before Kubeja pitched out of a jam leaving runners at second and third.

SVC wrapped up the game's scoring in the home half of the sixth, as Loussedes singled and was brought home on an RBI basehit from Burkardt to make the score 5-1.

Kubeja was masterful throughout, allowing one earned run on five hits, with four strikeouts and just one walk. Over his final two starts of the season, he has now allowed just two earned runs in 15 1/3 innings, with 11 strikeouts.

Offensively, the Bearcats managed eight hits, with two apiece from Shaffer and Loussedes.  Fichter doubled, while Burkardt and Aul each added singles. 

Thiel's Josh Russell was saddled with the loss on the hill, working five innings and allowing five runs on seven hits, with six strikeouts and four walks.  Scarpitti led the Tomcats with the bat, recording two of the team's five hits.

The split moves the Bearcats' record back over .500, at 20-19, while they end the 2010 season with a 10-6 mark at the friendly confines of Bearcat Ballfield.  The team will return to action on Sunday afternoon, wrapping up the campaign with a single, nine inning affair at Thiel.