AUBURNDALE, Fla. – Bridgewater College rallied from an early 4-0 deficit Monday to defeat Thomas More, 14-12 in 10 innings, to open its spring break trip on a winning note.

Thomas More used the long ball, belting a pair of homers in the fourth to break a scoreless tie and take a 4-0 lead.

The Eagles answered with three runs in the top of the fifth. Brendan Howell stroked a run-scoring double and Damian Reed contributed a run-scoring single. Kenner Berry also plated a run with a sacrifice fly.

The Saints answered with two runs in the bottom of the fifth to lead 6-3, but the Eagles bounced back with two runs in the top of the sixth to once again trail by one, 6-5. Ryan Leake's RBI-double and a run-scoring single by Berry produced the runs.

Thomas More responded with three runs in the bottom of the sixth to make it 9-5, but a two-run single by Austin Batten in the top of the seventh pulled the Eagles to within 9-7.

The Saints scored a single run in the bottom of the seventh to lead 10-7, but two runs in the top of the eighth pulled the Eagles to within one 10-9. Leake led off the eighth with a walk and Berry followed with a single. Howell chased both runners home with a triple to make it a one-run game.

Bridgewater took its first lead of the game with three runs in the top of the ninth, but the Saints rallied to tie the score with two runs in the bottom half of the inning.

In the top half of the ninth, Cavin Clyde, Leake and Berry each walked to load the bases with one out. Howell cleared the sacks with his second double of the game to give the Eagles a 12-10 lead.

After the Saints scored twice in the bottom of the ninth to force extra innings, the Eagles scored two runs in the top of the 10th to take a 14-12 lead. Chris King reached on an error to start the inning and moved to third on a double by Austin Batten. King scored on a wild pitch to put the Eagles on top 13-12. Batten moved to third on the wild pitch and scored on a sacrifice fly by Leake, making the score 14-12.

Freshman righthander Jeff Early retired the Saints in the bottom of the 10th to pick up his first collegiate victory on the mound.

Howell paced the Eagles with a 3-for-6 day at the plate that included two doubles, a triple and six RBIs. Berry was 2-for-4 with two walks while Leake and Batten each added two hits and two RBIs.

Bridgewater returns to action Tuesday with a doubleheader against Concordia-Chicago.