MEADVILLE, Pa. - The Gators surged to a big early lead and never looked back, extending their winning streak to a season-best six games after defeating Thiel 11-3 in non-conference action at the Robertson Athletic Complex.

Allegheny scored six runs in bottom of the first inning, belting out six of their 11 hits for the game before recording their second out, and the lead was more than enough for sophomore Patrick Orr, who earned his second collegiate victory after working six strong innings.

Six different players had a least one hit for the Gators, led by the red-hot duo of junior Joe Killian and sophomore Jacob Shick, who each went 3-for-4.  Senior Adam Bronson was a third Gator to post a multi-hit day, finishing 2-for-4.

After Orr set the Tomcats down in order in the top of the first, the Gators went to work in a hurry.  Dan Bonnett opened things with a double to the right field corner, and scored the game's first run on a single up the middle by Joe Killian.  Shick and Bronson also followed with singles to load the bases for freshman Tyler Wagner, who singled to right to bring home Killian and Shick and push the lead to 3-0.  Senior Ben Murray then came through with the big blow, a towering three-run home run to right field that gave the Gators a six-run cushion.

The Tomcats got one run back in the top of the second, when Matt Elko, who was hit by a pitch to lead off the frame, scored on a two-out single by Brian Genco.

Allegheny threatened to add on to the lead in the bottom of the fourth after singles from Shick and Bronson, but the Tomcats were able to get a ground out to escape harm. The Gators would tack on some insurance in their next at bat, thanks to the sizzling middle of the order.  Zach Gray led off with a walk, before Shick and Killian hit back-to-back singles to load the bases.  A grounder from Bronson would bring home Gray and make it 7-1, and then Killian the Gators' second run of the frame on a passed ball to go in front 8-1.

In the fifth inning, Thiel took advantage of a pair of errors to score an unearned run, before loading the bases with two outs.  However, Orr left the bases loaded by getting an inning ending flyout to right.  

The Tomcats scored their final two runs of the day with two outs in the top of the eighth, before the Gator offense finished the game in much of the same fashion in which they started, using a lengthy eighth inning to close out the day's scoring.  With one out, Gray and Killian drew consecutive walks, bringing up Shick.  The reigning North Coast Athletic Conference Player of the Week then sent a grounder through the right side that easily scored Gray.  On the subsequent throw into the infield, Shick purposely got caught in a rundown between first and second base.  Running hard the whole way, Killian crossed the plate standing with Allegheny's 11th and final run of the afternoon.

Orr earned the win by working five innings and allowing two runs (one earned) on just four hits, striking out two.  He was one of four pitchers used on the day by the Gators, as freshman Jameson Murray pitched two scoreless frames, senior Paul Vojtek struck out two in his only inning of work, and Wagner took the mound out of the DH spot to close the game out with a scoreless ninth.

Genco and Ryan Brumbaugh paced the Thiel offense with two hits apiece.  Parker Meyers started and took the loss for the Tomcats, working three innings and allowing six runs on eight hits, with one walk and one strikeout.

Allegheny will now look to stay hot as they return to NCAC play this weekend, playing 12 p.m. doubleheaders at Oberlin on both Saturday and Sunday.