Box Score GREENVILLE, Pa. – Picking up a 4-0 lead in the third inning, the Gators were able to hold off a late rally by the Thiel College Tomcats, earning a 7-5, seven-inning win on Thursday, Apr. 3 at Tomcat Park.

Junior Ben Murray, who was named Allegheny Male Athlete of the Week on Monday, Mar. 31, led the team with three RBI, picking up a pair of sacrifice flies along with a single in the third inning.  Fellow third year Adam Bronson drove in a pair of runs as junior Zach Gray scored a team-high three runs.  Gray and senior Mike Pezzone tied for the team high with two hits each, as Pezzone and sophomore Matt Sardini drove in a run a piece.

On the mound, freshman Chase Boyer impressed as the starter on Wednesday, throwing four innings of scoreless work, only allowing one hit while striking out three to earn the first win of his collegiate career.  Senior Eric Brandt pitched a scoreless seventh, picking up the save. 

After a scoreless first, Gray led off the second inning with a single up the middle.  Bronson drove home the junior with a double to deep right center, opening the scoring for the squad.  A single to center by Sardini moved Bronson over to third before Murray sacrificed the first out of the inning to bring home Bronson. 

The scoring continued in the third after senior Kyle Davis reached base with a walk to lead off the inning.  Sophomore Joe Killian reached base on an error to advance Davis to second before Gray was hit by a pitch to load the bases.  After Bronson was hit to bring home Davis, Murray ripped a single to center field to score Gray an d increase the Allegheny lead to 4-0. 

Picking up two hits while also being aided by two hit batsmen, the Gators scored two runs in the fifth.  Pezzone led off the inning with a single to left as a single by Gray and Bronson's second hit by pitch of the game once again loaded the bases.  Sardini took a pitch to bring in yet another bases loaded hit by pitch run before Murray grabbed his third RBI in as many at bats with another sacrifice fly.

Thiel would start the comeback in the bottom of the frame, scoring two runs on two hits.  Allegheny would respond with a run in the sixth, as Davis and Pezzone hit back-to-back doubles, with Pezzone's shot to left driving in Davis.  The Tomcats scored three runs in the bottom of the sixth, cutting the Allegheny lead to 7-5 before Brandt entered the game in the seventh, striking out the first batter and not allowing a runner into scoring position to clinch the game for the Gators.

Allegheny will commence North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) play on Saturday, Apr. 5 at the Robertson Complex, when the Gators will welcome the Terriers from Hiram College for a doubleheader set to start at 12 p.m.