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In a pair of close games, the Saint Vincent baseball team earned a split in a twinbill against Thomas More, falling 4-3 before winning 5-4 on a walkoff single by Brennan Hoffer.

In the opener, the Bearcats loaded the bases in the bottom of the 7th but were unable to push a run across the plate.

Dave Culeton (1-2) started and took the loss for the Bearcats, but fell victim to a pair of costly errors that allowed three runs in the 3rd inning.

Eddie Kilkeary started the scoring with a solo home run, his second of the season, over the fence in left-center in the bottom of the second.  However, the Saints led 3-1 midway through the third, then added another run in the 4th inning to take a 4-1 lead.

In the bottom of the 6th, the Bearcats got a leadoff single from Matt Morrone.  He advanced to second on a wild pitch, then Tanner Yard was hit by a pitch to put two runners on.  A Bobby Finn groundout moved the runners ahead, then Greg Martin grounded out to short, scoring Morrone to cut the gap to two runs, 4-2.

TJ Kuny then followed with a single that scored Yard, making the score 4-3.

After Culeton worked a scoreless 7th, Chris Winkler led off the bottom of the last inning with a single to right.  Nick LaCava's sacrifice bunt attempt was mishandled by the pitcher, putting two runners on with no outs.  After two outs, Yard grounded to short and the ball was again misplayed, loading the bases with two outs.  Saints closer Ken Ruberg then got a bases loaded strikeout to end the game.

Culeton went the distance, giving up 9 hits and just one earned run. He walked one and struck out three. Morrone and Winkler had a pair of hits.

In game two, both pitchers were strong through the first two innings.  In the top of the third, the Saints had three straight hits and scored a run, but SVC starter Jimmy Malone worked his way out of the jam and kept the score 1-0.
 
Malone struck out the side in the fourth, but SVC wasn't able to manage much offense against TMC starter Brandon Eliadis, who faced the minimum through four innings.  The lone Bearcat runner was TJ Kuny, who singled, but was later called out on a strikeout/batter's interference call while attempting a steal.
 
A two-out single brought home an unearned run off Malone in the top of the 5th, and a double later in the inning scored another pair of unearned runs to make it 4-0 in favor of the visitors.
 
In the bottom of the fifth, SVC got a leadoff infield single from Martin, followed by a Kuny double down the right field line.  With one out, Winkler hit a grounder to third, but the throw to first pulled the first baseman off the bag, loading the bases.  Pinch-hitter Braden Hoffer grounded out, but drove home Martin with the Bearcats' first run.  Ramon Milke then pinch hit and drove a single into center that scored two more runs.  The center fielder bobbled the ball, but recovered in time to throw Milke out attempting to reach second, ending the inning with the score 4-3. 

After Malone worked a 1-2-3 top of the 7th, SVC stepped up with one last chance.  Martin led of with a single and was replaced by pinch runner Stone Holtzman.  Kuny laid down a perfect sacrifice bunt that moved the  runner to second, as the Saints made the move to their closer, Ruberg.
 
Eddie Kilkeary promptly stepped up and took a pitch the opposite way down the right field line for a double that tied the game, 4-4.  After falling behind Winkler 2-0 in the count, Ruberg intentionally walked him to put runners at first and second for pinch hitter Nick Amatucci, who drew a walk to load the bases.

Hoffer then stepped up and hit a game-winning single up the middle, lifting the Bearcats to a 5-4 win and getting Malone (2-1) the complete game win.  

Malone gave up four hits, walked one and struck out three to earn the victory.  Martin and Kuny paced the offense, each with a pair of hits.

Saint Vincent is now 5-8 overall, while Thomas More's record is 8-4.  Both teams are 1-1 in the Presidents' Athletic Conference.

The teams play game three of the series on Sunday (March 26)