WASHINGTON - Gallaudet University broke open a 1-1 game with a three-run fifth inning to lift the Bison baseball team to a 4-1 victory against Rivier College on Friday afternoon at Hoy Field.
Senior outfielder William Bissell (Brewer, Maine) drove in the eventual game-winning run on a single through the left side of the Raiders' infield in the fifth. Bissell and Marcus Smith (Baltimore, Md.) later scored on a two-run single from senior Chris Guinn (McLoud, Okla.).
The three-run lead was enough for Guinn (1-0) to pick-up his first win on the mound this season. Guinn started the game for the Bison and went six innings where he allowed one run on five hits, walked two and struck out two Raiders. Guinn gave way to sophomore Danny O'Donnell (Olney, Md.) who pitched two innings of scoreless relief and struck out three. Senior Tyler Crace (Westfield, Ind.) closed things out in the ninth to earn his first save of the season.
Rivier (0-1) starting pitcher Alex Mears (0-1) suffered the loss as he allowed four runs (two earned) on six hits, two walks and two strikeouts in six innings of work.
Gallaudet (6-3), winners of five straight, got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the first with a RBI single from senior catcher Casey Hicks (Henderson, Nev.) that plated JJ Klein (Cincinnati, Ohio). The Raiders responded with a run in the top of the third to tie the game before the three-run fifth.
Klein (two doubles), Bissell and Guinn led the way with two hits each for the Bison. Rivier outfielder Marc Medeiros went 3-for-5 and scored the Raiders' lone run.
Gallaudet is back in action tomorrow (Saturday, March 8) as it host Baptist Bible (Pa.) College in a non-conference nine-inning game at 1 p.m.