WASHINGTON, D.C. — Southern Vermont College was on the winning end of a pitcher's duel at Hoy Field Sunday afternoon as the visiting Mountaineer baseball team defeated Gallaudet University 1-0 with a single run in the top of the eighth.

After dropping its first three games of the season, SVC has now taken its last three contests to move to an even .500 on the year (3-3). The team is back in action on Saturday, taking on Ashford University in the first of six Southern Vermont contests to be played in the Tucson Invitational Games.

Mountaineer junior right-hander Dylan Angelo (Ft. Johnson, N.Y.) tossed his second complete-game shutout in as many starts, giving up just three hits and three walks while striking out seven Bison batters. He had a no-hitter going after the third and allowed just one hit to GU through seven innings of work as he moved to 2-1 on the year from the bump.

Angelo's performance marks the first time in program history that a Southern Vermont pitcher has thrown two straight complete-game shutouts in consecutive starts as it's also the first time that the team has blanked its opponent in back-to-back games. The righty has now allowed just eight hits and no runs in his last 16 innings on the hill.

Both sides had their chances throughout the game but failed to push a runner across the plate in the first seven innings. SVC then struck in the eighth when a one-out walk ended up scoring on a single to left, giving Angelo enough of a cushion to grab the victory as he went the distance.

SVC senior shortstop RJ Pingitore (Perth, N.Y.) was 2-3 at the plate with a walk, and he scored the winning run while stealing two bags. Junior designated hitter Anthony Mercuri (Ridge, N.Y.) was 1-4, his hit knocking in the only run of the day in Southern Vermont's first-ever meeting with Gallaudet.

Southern Vermont was perfect in the field during its first game in two weeks, committing no errors on the defensive end while swiping four bases offensively.

The Mountaineers were able to load the bases in the top of the first with just one out, Pingitore singling to left for a pair of runners to get aboard before a Bison miscue filled them up. Gallaudet would get out of the inning unscathed, though, as an infield fly and ensuing strikeout got the hosts off the field.

GU got some action going itself in the bottom of the opening frame, a pair of walks getting moved into scoring position with a wild pitch and a stolen base. Angelo was able to retire the side by way of the K, getting the third out to go down looking.

Both teams were retired in order in the second, Angelo inducing a fly and a ground out before recording his third strikeout of the day to get back in the dugout. Pingitore got on base for the second time with a bunt single in the third, but he would stranded at second after swiping the base as the Bison worked out of it.

Angelo recorded his second straight 1-2-3 inning of the day in the bottom of the third, getting another strikeout before his defense took care of the last two retires. Neither side could get on in the fourth as the solid pitching from both starters continued into the fifth.

SVC left a lone runner on base in each of the next two innings while the Bison left two on the pond in the bottom of the fifth before going down in order for the fourth time of the day in the sixth.

The Mountaineers threatened to break through to the scoreboard in the seventh when sophomore third baseman John Arancio (Oradell, N.J.) tallied a leadoff double down the line in right and was followed by a single to center by freshman catcher Dan Mason (Bloomingdale, N.J.). Southern Vermont advanced the runners 90 feet with a subsequent sacrifice bunt, but Gallaudet was able to get out of the jam with a strikeout and a final grounder back to the mound.

Angelo registered his fifth 1-2-3 inning of the afternoon in the bottom of the seventh, sitting down the hosts once again as the stalemate continued. He then got some offensive support in the top of the eighth as Southern Vermont finally broke the scoreless tie. Pingitore worked a one-out walk to get on, and he moved around to third with his second steal of the day and a GU balk. After freshman right fielder Cody Sullivan (Brunswick, N.Y.) walked to get runners on the corners, Mercuri tagged a single into left to plate the only run of the day. A double steal put a pair of Mountaineers in scoring position, but the Bison worked an inning-ending double play to end the frame.

Now with the lead, Angelo continued his gem as he allowed just a two-out hit in the eighth before the Mountaineers went down in order in the top half of the ninth. The junior right-hander gave up a leadoff single to left to start the bottom of the box, but he then induced a grounder back to the mound that allowed him to start a 1-6-3 double play. He got the next batter to roll one down to third, and the Mountaineer defense took care of business to seal the slim victory.