RICHMOND, Ind. -- Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology earned a doubleheader split at Earlham College on Saturday to capture a two-of-three series victory in the first Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference series of the 2016 season.

Rose-Hulman dropped the opener 11-2 on Saturday, before rebounding to win the nightcap and secure the series win 5-3.  The series matched the teams picked to finish first and second in the conference this year in the preseason league coaches poll.

In the nightcap, freshman David Burnside blasted a home run and had three hits to lead Rose-Hulman's offensive performance.  Burnside finished 3-4 with three runs scored, a double, a home run and one RBI.

Senior Kody Alayon added two hits and scored one run, and senior Zach Hull contributed a two-run single in the second inning that gave Rose-Hulman a 2-0 lead.

The offensive performance was enough to allow senior pitchers Daniel Sutherland and Alec McNally to combine for the victory.  Sutherland improved to 3-0 on the season by allowing two earned runs in seven-plus innings, scattering eight hits with four strikeouts.  McNally tossed two scoreless innings for his first save of the season.

Brennan Laird and Joe Pipher led the Earlham offense with two hits each in the nightcap.  

In game one, Earlham scored four runs in the fourth and fifth innings to earn an 11-2 win.  Brandon Smalling finished 5-5 with four RBIs and Pipher had three hits to lead Earlham's performance.

The Rose-Hulman offense in game one was led by Hull with two hits.  Sophomore Ian Grant allowed just one run in three innings with four strikeouts to lead the pitching effort.

Rose-Hulman stands 9-5 overall and 2-1 in HCAC play, while Earlham has a mark of 11-4 and is 2-2 in league games this season.  The Fightin' Engineers return to action on Wednesday at 6 p.m. with a matchup at Victory Field in Indianapolis against Anderson University.