WASHINGTON - On a windy Saturday afternoon, the Gallaudet University baseball team opened their 2022 season against Elmira College in a non-conference doubleheader at a chilly Hoy Field. The teams split the twin bill with the same 18-6 outcome as Elmira (1-1) took the first game and the Bison (1-1) returned the favor in the second game.

Game 1: Elmira 18, Gallaudet 6
Gallaudet did not hesitate to score three runs in the first two innings against the Soaring Eagles to take an early 3-0 lead. Junior Darren Drolsbaugh (Lansdale, Pa) started the bottom of the first inning with a walk. Two batters later, senior Winston Lane III (Brooklyn Center, Minn.) doubled down the left-field line to plate Drolsbaugh from second and give the Bison their first run of the 2022 season. Sophomore catcher Salvador Diaz (Norwalk, Calif.) followed with his own single down the left-field line as Lane scored.

Senior second baseman Frank Diaz (Far Rockaway, N.Y.) led off the bottom of the second with a high fly ball that landed in right field and rolled to the fence as Diaz hustled around the bases and dove into third base with a triple. Freshman Johnathan Guerrero (Indio, Calif.) grounded out to second base but it was enough to score Diaz on the play as GU led 3-0.

Drolsbaugh got the start on the mound and threw two scoreless innings before Elmira came alive for six runs off five hits and one error in the top of the third inning.

Gallaudet responded with three runs in the bottom of the third to knot the game at 6-6. The Soaring Eagles regained the lead for good in the top of the fourth with a run and exploded for 10 runs in the sixth inning as things got out of hand. 

Drolsbaugh (0-1) took the loss as he pitched five and a third innings and allowed 12 runs (seven earned) on 11 hits, three hit by pitch, no walks and three strikeouts. 

Game 2: Gallaudet 18, Elmira 6
GU bounced back in a big way in the second game as the Bison scored 12 runs in the bottom of the first inning as Gallaudet sent 15 batters to the plate and collected eight hits, which included three triples in the opening frame.

Drolsbaugh had a three-run triple on his second time through the lineup in the first. Salvador Diaz and junior Austin Sliva-Wynne (Richmond, Texas) had back-to-back RBI triples in the first.

Elmira scored three runs in the top of the third and two runs in the fourth before GU tacked on three more in the bottom of the fourth to take a 15-5 lead. GU added additional runs in the fifth and sixth innings in the 12-run victory.

Drolsbaugh led the way as he went 4-for-5 at the plate with three singles, a triple, four RBI and two runs scored. Austin Sliva-Wynne finished the game (3-for-4) with three hits, three runs and two RBI. Salvador Diaz scored three times and drove in three runs. Sophomore Josh Dugan (San Antonio, Texas) went 2-for-4 at the plate with two runs scored and two RBI singles. 

Guerrero (1-0) picked up the win on the mound as he pitched over four innings where he allowed six runs (four earned) on six hits, six walks and two strikeouts. Dugan closed out the game as he pitched the final 2.2 innings of shutout ball as he walked two and struck out one.

Elmira starting pitcher Mineo (0-1) took the loss as he only lasted eight batters before leaving due to injury. Mineo surrendered eight runs on four hits and four batters hit by pitch.

BISON TRACKS

• This was Gallaudet's first baseball game since March 8, 2020
• It was 713 days in between GU's last game played and today's Opening Day
• The remainder of the 2020 season and the entire 2021 season were wiped out due to the COVID-19 pandemic
• GU had previously won its last four opening games of the season

UP NEXT
Gallaudet will play host to Wilson College (0-0) tomorrow (Sunday, Feb. 20) in a non-conference doubleheader that begins at noon.