MARCY, N.Y. – Gallaudet University split a key North Eastern Athletic Conference (NEAC) baseball doubleheader on the road Saturday against SUNYIT at Peter A. Spina Field. The Bison lost a tightly contested first game, 11-10, in eight innings but bounced back with a 6-3 win in the second game.

Gallaudet (18-10, 6-2 NEAC) scored six runs in the top of the third inning of the first game to take a 6-1 lead but SUNYIT battled back by scoring two, three and four runs, respectively, in the next three innings to take a 10-9 lead heading into the sixth. Freshman first baseman Justin Strong (Charlotte, N.C.) tied the game with a double to left field that scored junior Mitchell Bensman (Russia, Ohio). Both teams went quietly in the seventh.

SUNYIT (10-9, 5-1 NEAC) won the game in the bottom of the eighth when Dylan Gorski doubled to leadoff the inning against Gallaudet pitcher Blake Phillips (Dalton, Ga.). The next batter flew out and Phillips walked Nicholas Giunta before Jim Sass stepped to the plate. Sass then singled to center field as Gorski came around to score the game-winning run.

Sophomore starting pitcher Danny O'Donnell (Olney, Md.) had a rough game as he allowed 10 runs on 13 hits in 4.1 innings as he struck out five. Phillips (1-2) took the loss as he threw 2.2 innings as he allowed one run on four hits, one walk and struck out one.

Senior outfielder William Bissell (Brewer, Maine) finished the first game 3-for-5, one run and three RBI. Sophomore Chase Magsig (Hudsonville, Mich.) went 2-for-5, one run, double and two RBI. Phillips scored twice, walked twice and knocked in two runs in the loss.

Bissell, Magsig and Phillips all had one RBI in the second game as senior catcher Casey Hicks (Henderson, Nev.) doubled home two runs in the top of the sixth inning. GU led 1-0 after the first but trailed 3-1 heading into the fourth. Gallaudet responded with one run in the fourth and two runs in the fifth and sixth to put the game away.

Freshman pitcher Ian Evans (Murphy, N.C.) picked up the complete game win as he allowed three runs on seven hits, four walks and struck out two.

The two teams will wrap-up it three-game series tomorrow (Sunday, April 13) with one game (nine innings) at noon.