MARCY, N.Y. – The SUNYIT Baseball Team (16-17, 10-8 NEAC) split a non-conference doubleheader with Hamilton on Saturday, winning the first game 6-5 before falling in a rain-delayed nightcap, 8-0. The Wildcats, who completed all of their NEAC games before this weekend, now await the outcome of tomorrow's Penn St.-Abington – Gallaudet game. It all comes down to one game, as SUNYIT needs a Bison victory tomorrow in order to qualify for the NEAC Tournament next weekend.

GAME ONE: SUNYIT 6, Hamilton 5

The Wildcats jumped on the Continentals for 4 runs in the bottom of the first inning, then added two the bottom of the 4^th. While the Continentals made things interesting with 2 runs in the top of the 5^th, SUNYIT never trailed in the 6-5 victory.

The top of the lineup did much of the damage for SUNYIT, as the 1-6 hitters recorded 8 of the team's 9 hits on the day. First baseman Gerald Milanes (Brooklyn, N.Y. / Santa Rosa de Lima) made the most of a spot-start, going 2-for-3 with a double and a team-leading 3 RBI's out of the 6-hole.

Joining Milanes with multiple hits on the day was 3-hitter Joseph O'Rourke (Camden, N.Y. / Camden). The left-fielder went 2-for-3 with a run scored.

Sawyer Haney (Cooperstown, N.Y. / Cooperstown) picked up his first win of the year for the Wildcats, battling through 4 innings while scattering 8 hits and 3 runs, striking out five. Tyler Vyce (Waterford, N.Y. / Shenendehowa) pitched two inning of relief, and Ryan Dungey (Vernon, N.Y. / VVS) picked up his league-leading 3^rd save of the year, striking out 2 in the top of the 7^th.

GAME TWO: Hamilton 8, SUNYIT 0

Hamilton got to SUNYIT game two starter Cody Crego (Holland Patent, N.Y. / Holland Patent) in the top of the 2^nd inning for 4 runs on 2 doubles and 3 singles. It would end up being plenty of cushion, as Hamilton starter Finlay O'Hara was nearly untouchable. O'Hara went the distance, giving up just 2 hits while striking out 4 to take the 8-0 win.

The teams had to sit through a rain delay spanning almost an hour between the 3^rd and 4^th innings. The teams managed to have some fun during the delay, performing various "skits" back-and-forth, a long-standing baseball tradition for rain delays. Some of them were captured on video, and can be found on the SUNYIT facebook page.

The Wildcats will be back in action tomorrow with their final home game at Noon, as they host SUNY Canton for Senior Day. Fans are encourage to arrive early in order to catch the brief Senior Day ceremony that will be held prior to the first pitch.