Pitt‑Greensburg baseball used a massive late‑game surge, highlighted by a nine‑run seventh inning, to power past Thiel 16–7 on Monday afternoon at Tomcat Park. The Bobcats (1–1) collected 15 hits and capitalized on six Thiel errors to secure their first win of the 2026 campaign.

Early Offensive Pressure, but No Breakthrough

Pitt‑Greensburg threatened immediately in the top of the first, loading the bases on walks to James Domer, Tommy Smith, and Josh Preston, but a strikeout ended the inning. After Thiel scratched across an unearned run in the second, the Tomcats added two more in the third thanks to a pair of singles and a bases‑loaded walk, giving the hosts a 3–0 advantage.

Bobcats Break Through in Fourth and Fifth

The Bobcats responded in the fourth with their first big momentum shift. After an error allowed Neo Miller to reach, Domer ripped an RBI double to right to put UPG on the board. Two batters later, Smith singled and advanced on a Thiel throwing error, allowing Domer to score and cutting the deficit to 3–2.

In the fifth, UPG manufactured two more runs to take the lead. Nicholas Laubach walked, and Hunter Gideons followed with a bunt single. A wild pitch moved both runners up, and Colby Rearick's sacrifice fly brought home Laubach to tie it. Miller then drove in Gideons with a fielder's‑choice RBI, putting the Bobcats ahead 4–3.

Thiel Retakes the Lead in a Chaotic Fifth

Thiel surged back with a four‑run bottom half. The Tomcats used a triple, an error, and several run‑scoring plays—most of them unearned—to retake a 7–4 advantage. With momentum slipping, Pitt‑Greensburg turned to Tommy Sheets, who entered in the sixth and delivered a crucial shutdown frame to keep the Bobcats within striking distance.

A Nine‑Run Seventh Blows the Game Open

The turning point of the afternoon came in the top of the seventh, when UPG sent 14 batters to the plate and erupted for nine runs on five hits.

The inning began with Miller working a walk, followed by Ben Aftanas getting hit by a pitch. Zach Tyson then dropped a bunt single that turned into two runs after a throwing error, cutting the deficit to 7–6.

After two more hit‑by‑pitches loaded the bases, Preston delivered the dagger—a two‑run double down the right‑field line to give UPG an 8–7 lead. Laubach followed with a two‑run single, extending the advantage to 10–7.

The Bobcats weren't done. RBI hits from Miller and Aftanas, along with additional defensive miscues by the Tomcats, pushed the lead to 13–7 before the inning finally closed.

UPG Adds Insurance in the Eighth

Pitt‑Greensburg tacked on three more in the eighth. Laubach singled for his third hit of the day, Gideons followed with his third knock, and Miller drilled a two‑run double to left center. Aftanas' sacrifice fly plated Rearick to make it 16–7.

Sheets and Siemon Seal the Win

Sheets earned the win with two scoreless innings, striking out three and allowing no hits. JJ Siemon tossed the final two frames, working around two hits to keep Thiel off the scoreboard and secure the Bobcats' first victory of the season.

Offensive Standouts

• Neo Miller: 3-for-5, 4 RBI, 2 runs, double
• Nicholas Laubach: 2-for-5, 3 RBI, 3 runs
• Hunter Gideons: 3-for-5, 3 runs
• Josh Preston: 2-for-4, 2 RBI, double, 2 runs
• Ben Aftanas: 2-for-5, 2 RBI, double

Pitt‑Greensburg will now travel to Florida to participate in the RussMatt Invitational. They will face off in a DH against Calvin on Friday, with first pitch of game 1 scheduled for 3:15PM.