FORT MYERS, Fla. – The Hiram College baseball team sputtered late, dropping an 11-4 decision to Thiel College on Tuesday afternoon.

The Terriers started the game off strong, scoring the first three runs of the morning. After starting pitcher Justin Joyce retired the first three tomcats in a row, Alex Perrella led the bottom of the first off with a double.

After Vito Petrillo reached on a hit by pitch, sophomore Mike Eversole doubled to left center, scoring Perrella for the game's first run.

Sophomore Vince Lonigro posted the next RBI, scoring Petrillo before Christian Owens picked up his first RBI of the day, reaching on a fielder's choice. When the dust settled, Hiram was staked to a 3-0 lead.

After the Tomcats picked up one in the top of the second, Hiram responded with another in the bottom of the third.

The Terriers manufactured a run after Petrillo reached on an error by the Tomcat shortstop. After moving to second on a failed pickoff attempt, he then advanced to third on a groundout by Petrillo. Junior Alex Gould then picked up the RBI with a single to left, putting Hiram in front 4-1.

Despite two more scoreless innings from Joyce, the Terriers could not improve their advantage as the bats fell silent through the rest of the game.

Thiel responded by getting three runs in the sixth, before taking the lead in the top of the eighth inning. The Tomcats then put together six runs in the ninth to round out the scoring.

Making his first-career start of the season, Joyce pitched well, putting together seven innings while allowing just three earned runs and striking out six.

Gould led the offense as the lone Terrier with a multi-hit day. He finished 2-for-3 with a walk and a RBI. Perrella, Eversole, sophomore PJ Suso and Tyler Duben all added hits.

After an off day on Wednesday, the Terriers will be back in action on Thursday afternoon as Hiram takes on Bluffton University. The matchup with the Beavers is scheduled for 3 p.m.