The Bearcats came back from a seven-run deficit to win 9-8 in the opening game of their home doubleheader against Presidents' Athletic Conference rival Thiel College, before the Tomcats prevented a four-game SVC weekend series sweep with a 13-7 win in the nightcap.
 
After the 1-1 day, the Bearcats now hold an overall record of 10-8 and an 9-5 mark in conference play, while Thiel ends the day at 6-12 overall and 4-11 in conference play.
 
GAME ONE – Saint Vincent 9, Thiel 8
After spotting Thiel a 7-0 lead in the fifth inning, the Bearcats roared back in a big way, scoring nine runs over the fifth and sixth innings to earn a 9-8 comeback win.
 
Matt Evans led the Bearcats' offensive attack, going 2-for-5 with three RBIs, including the eventual game-winner, while he earned his third save of the year by pitching 2.2 scoreless innings to close out the win.
 
Evans was one of five SVC players to record multi-hit games, with Jordan Sabol, Julian Santana, Jayke Saiani and Joe Rudzinski each tallying two hits. Sabol, Santana and Evans also scored two runs apiece, while Saiani and TJ Dailey each drove in two RBIs.
 
The visiting Tomcats jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the top of the first on a long home run by Andrew Giesey, before adding a single run in the third, two in the fourth and one in the fifth to take a 7-0 advantage. The Bearcats would then respond in a big way.
 
With one out in the bottom of the fifth, Rudzinski singled down the right field line, before Sabol walked and Santana laced a base hit to center to load the bases. Evans got the Bearcats on the scoreboard with an RBI single to left, scoring Rudzinski and keeping the bases loaded. Dailey then picked up his first RBI of the day the hard way, taking a pitch off of the shoulder to plate Sabol, before a ground ball from Jimmy Malone brought home Santana to trim the gap to 7-4. Saiani followed by winning a lengthy at bat and lining a single to center to plate Evans and Dailey and make it a two-run game, 7-5.
 
Saint Vincent reliever Tyler Chrise retired the Tomcats in order in the top of the sixth and the Bearcat bats went back to work in the home half. With one out, Tim Beimel tripled to the right field corner and was promptly plated by a Ridzinski sacrifice fly to make it a one-run game, 7-6. Sabol and Santana each kept the inning alive by racking back-to-back singles, before both scoring on Evans' double to the gap in left-center to give the Bearcats their first lead of the game, 8-7. Dailey would then follow with a single to center to bring Evans home and up the SVC advantage to 9-7.

In the top of the seventh, the Tomcats had runners at second and third with two outs. A single to right by Jamin Wentling plated the lead runner, but a rocket of a throw from Dailey cut down the second runner - and would-be tying run - at the plate to end the inning.

Evans kept the Tomcats off the board the rest of the way, quelling a Thiel threat in the eighth by inducing an inning-ending 4-6-3 double play and then stranding the Tomcats' tying run on second in the ninth with a game-ending ground out.
 
In all, eight different Bearcats recorded at least one hit in the win, as SVC finished with a 13-11 advantage in the hit column.
 
Chrise threw 2.2 innings and allowed two runs (one earned) with three strikeouts to earn the win in relief of SVC starter Brenden Lavely, while Evans picked up his team-leading third save of the year.
 
Wentling went 3-for-4 with two RBIs to lead the Thiel offense, while Anthony Rago and Nash Matson each tallied two hits. Tomcat starter Richard Crooks started and took the no decision, working five innings, while reliever Sante Carducci took the loss.
 
 
GAME TWO – Thiel 13, Saint Vincent 7
Saint Vincent looked prime to pull away early in the nightcap, loading the bases in the bottom of the first on walks to Santana, Zach Barberich and Brady Duricko. Santana scored the game's first run on a wild pitch, before Nate Roebuck's two-out single to center plated Barberich to stake the Bearcats out to a 2-0 lead.
 
The Tomcats quickly countered in the top of the second inning, sending 11 men the plate and scoring seven runs on six hits to jump in front 7-2.
 
Saint Vincent manufactured a run in the bottom of the second to trim the deficit to 7-3, as Beimel walked to lead off, advanced to second on a Ben Menarchek single, stole third and scored on a sacrifice fly by Steve Manon.
 
The Bearcats scored their third run of the game in the fourth inning, as Menarchek singled, advanced to second on an errant pickoff throw and scored on a single to left by Johnny Daggs to make it 8-3.
 
Thiel pushed its lead to 10-4 with a two-run top of the sixth, but the Bearcats countered with a pair of runs in the bottom half. Menarchek walked and Manon singled to open the frame, before two wild pitches would bring both of them across the plate to make it 10-6.
 
The Tomcats pulled out of reach with a three-run seventh, using four hits and an error to take a 13-6 advantage.
 
SVC closed out the day's scoring in the bottom of the seventh with a Santana RBI groundout that scored Zach Lockwich, who drew a pinch-hit walk.
 
Three Bearcats tallied multi-hit games, as Menarchek, Daggs and Manon each finished with two hits. Santana reached base safely five times, with a single and four walks, while Menarchek walked twice and scored two runs in addition to his two base hits.
 
Aaron Stephen started on the mound for SVC and was saddled with the loss, working 1.2 innings. He was one of four Bearcats to toe the rubber, with Colin Parks throwing 2.1 innings, Saiani two and Justin Wright one.
 
Thiel saw four players tally two hits, with Seth Johnson and Trey Williams each driving in three RBIs. Wentling homered, while teammate Nash Matson scored three runs and drove in two. Tomcat starter Alex Lux worked four innings to earn the win.
 
Saint Vincent is scheduled to return to action on Friday, April 16, hosting Geneva College in a PAC doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m. at Bearcat Ballfield.