WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senior pitcher Ethan Marr (Roslyn, NY/Roslyn) recorded his tenth career victory to break the program record in that category and the SUNYIT baseball team put a total of 12 runs on the board in a rout over the Gallaudet University Bison during a doubleheader to open conference play, winning game one 5-1 and game two 7-3 Saturday.  The Wildcats are now 2-0 in the NEAC West Division* and 9-9 overall, while Gallaudet dropped to 0-2 in the NEAC West and 9-16 overall.

Marr broke the record previosuly held by Dean Williams (2004-07) with a win in game two, as he went five innings and gave up two runs on eight hits while fanning two batters, leaving him just two strikeouts from breaking that career record as well.

SUNYIT got some great pitching in both contests.  Just like they have all season, the Wildcats got another outstanding performance from junior Patrick Baker (Ronkonkoma, NY/Connetequot) in game one, as he pitched a complete game and gave up just two hits while striking out seven of the 26 batters he faced.  His offense backed him up as well, coming up with 10 hits to produce five runs.  Sophomore Chandler Evans (New Hartford, NY/New Hartford) led the way with three hits and finished with a double, an RBI and two runs scored.

Junior Devin Frye (Holland Patent, NY/Holland Patent) went 2-for-3 with an RBI and one run scored, classmate Anthony Surber (Dix Hills, NY/Half Hollow Hills) produced two hits and scored a run and sophomore John LeClair (Mohawk, NY/Cortland State) drove in two runs and scored another.

The Wildcats brought their offense once again in game two, starting with three runs in the third on RBI hits from LeClair, junior Michael McCrone (Whitney Point, NY/Hudson Valley CC) and senior Matt Wanner (Rome, NY/Rome Free Academy).  McCrone would drive home three more runs on a triple in the fourth to put SUNYIT up 6-0 and essentially secure the victory.

Surber and LeClair both scored two runs, with LeClair also stealing two bases.  Junior Jake Ross (Vernon Center, NY/Rome Catholic) relieved Marr in the sixth, closing out the last two innings and striking out three batters.

Casey Hicks went 3-for-3 with two RBI and one run scored for Gallaudet, while Zane Noschese finished 3-for-4 with two runs scored.

The Wildcats will be back in action tomorrow when they travel to take on Penn State Harrisburg for a doubleheader.  Game one is scheduled to begin at noon.

*Beginning with the 2010 season, North Atlantic Conference (NAC) members Castleton, Husson, Lyndon State, Maine-Farmington and Thomas will play in the NEAC as associate members in the East Division.  Each division will hold a championship and the two divisional champions will meet for a three-game series to determine the conference champion.  The conference winner will earn an automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Championship.