WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Gallaudet University baseball team swept its 2011 home opener with two sound wins over visiting Baptist Bible (Pa.) College on a cool and windy Saturday at Hoy Field. The Bison took the first game of the doubleheader with a 16-0 win in five innings followed by a 17-2 victory in seven.

The bats came alive for Gallaudet (2-2) in the first game as they scored two or more runs in every inning. The Bison pushed across eight in the third inning alone. Leading the offense was junior William Chapman (Los Angeles, Calif.), freshman William Bissell (Brewer, Maine) and sophomore Tommy Barksdale (Brookeville, Md.) who combined to knock in 10 runs and score six. Bissell went 2-for-3 at the plate as both of his hits were extra-base hits (double and triple). Chapman drove in a game-high five runs and senior outfielder Zane Noschese (Pittsburgh, Pa.) stole a team best five bases. Noschese (1-0) pitched the complete game victory as he allowed no runs on two hits, walked three and struck out one.

In the second game, it was more of the same for the Buff and Blue. GU jumped out to a quick 5-0 lead after one inning and didn't look back. The Bison plated a run in every inning but the sixth as it collected 15 hits. Bissell continued his hot start as he went 4-for-4, scored three times and knocked in three. Freshman catcher Casey Hicks (Henderson, Nev.) had two triples as he brought in five Bison runners and scored twice. Noschese picked up two hits and had four RBI. Freshman Chris Guinn (McLoud, Okla.) picked up his first collegiate victory as he only allowed two runs from Baptist Bible (0-2).

GU will host Muhlenberg College in a doubleheader tomorrow (Sunday, February 27) with the first game slated to start at noon.