BOX SCORE

WASHINGTON, Pa. (May 10) - After nearly four hours of a rain delay, the Saint Vincent baseball team used a four-run third inning and withstood a Thiel rally to down the Tomcats, 5-4, in an elimination game of the 2013 Presidents' Athletic Conference Baseball Championship.

Jared Haller (6-3) tossed 8.2 innings, allowing 11 hits and four runs in earning the win. The senior lefty struck out seven batters before giving way to classmate Gary Gerhardt who closed things out, allowing one hit and ending the game with a strike out to earn his first save of the season.

Thiel scored first in the top of the second to take a 1-0 lead.

SVC responded with four runs on five hits in the bottom of the third. With one out, AJ Kavinsky walked and stole second before advancing to third on a single by Nick Beamenderfer. Joey Fearer then tied the game, 1-1, with an RBI single through the right side.

An infield single by Brad Burkardt loaded the bases, leading to an Andrew Kozusko two-run single through the right side. Jordan Britcher drove in the fourth run with a sacrifice fly to center to cap the scoring, 4-1.

Thiel added single runs on solo homers in the sixth and seventh innings, and SVC added an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth. With two outs, Vince Murphy doubled to left center and Tanner Master delivered an RBI single to left field, 5-3.

Thiel threatened in the top of the ninth, plating a run, but Gerhardt shut the door with a strike out to end the threat and the game.

Fearer and Master each finished with two hits, while Kozusko had two RBI. Five Bearcats had one hit, including Murphy's double.

SVC will take on third-seeded Thomas More at 12 p.m. on Saturday, May 11 in an elimination game. The winner advances to the championship round against top-seeded an unbeaten Washington & Jefferson at 3 p.m.