WASHINGTON – The Gallaudet University baseball team dropped a non-conference game against nationally ranked Salisbury University as the Bison lost, 5-1, in nine innings at Hoy Field.

The Bison (21-12) struck first as senior Marcus Smith (Baltimore, Md.) scored the first run of the game in the bottom of the first inning when senior center fielder William Bissell (Brewer, Maine) hit a sacrifice fly to the outfield. Salisbury (28-7), ranked No. 14 in Division III, would quickly respond in the top of the second with a run of its own, to knot the game up at 1-1. Gallaudet and Salisbury grinded things out the first seven innings in a pitchers' duel between juniors Brandon Holsworth (Beal City, Mich.) and Salisbury's Dan Fein (6-1). Holsworth faced 26 batters in six innings, giving up five hits, one run, and three walks as he struck out five. Fein threw eight innings where he allowed one run on six hits, walked two and struck out three.

Unfortunately for Gallaudet, its defensive efforts would fall short in the eighth inning as the Sea Gulls scored four runs off sophomore pitcher Danny O'Donnell (Olney, Md). SU catcher Tom LaBriola (3-for-4) came through with the eventual game-winning hit as he singled home two runners in the eighth to end the tied game. The Sea Gulls plated two more insurance runs as they led 5-1. O'Donnell (5-2) pitched 1.2 innings, giving up six hits, four runs, one walk as he struck out one as he suffered his second loss of the season. Junior Ben Coleman (Russia, Ohio) closed out the game for the Bison, facing five batters in 1.1 innings, giving up one hit and one walk.

Senior catcher Casey Hicks (Henderson, Nev.) and freshman Justin Strong (Charlotte, N.C.) both had two hits in the loss.

The Bison remain at home to host Keuka College in a North Eastern Athletic Conference doubleheader on Saturday, April 26, starting at 1 p.m