March 29, 2006

Box Score

PARSIPPANY, NJ - The New Jersey Institute of Technology baseball team fell 9-6 today to Caldwell College in a Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference match-up at Smith Field in Parsippany, NJ.

The Highlanders fall to 8-8, 1-4 in the CACC while Caldwell improves to 7-10, 1-1 in the CACC.

NJIT opened the game early when senior Justin Racz singled to center. Racz then stole second and advanced to third on an error by the pitcher who tried to pickoff Racz at second. Junior Derrick McCain hit an RBI single to left field, while teammate Rob Pietrocola reached on a fielder's choice scoring McCain and putting NJIT up 2-0.

Caldwell answered back adding three runs on four hits and one error in the bottom of the first going up 3-2.

Senior pitcher Chris Legiadre found himself in a little bit of trouble, when the Cougars added two more runs pushing the lead 5-2. Landon Viessy and Efrain Velasquez both recorded an RBI in the inning.

The Highlanders added a run in the top of the third when first baseman Austin DeRogatis hit into a fielder's choice, scoring Racz who began the inning by hitting a hard hit ball to the shortstop.

Nick Longo drove in two runs in the bottom of the fifth increasing the Cougar lead 8-3.

The Highlanders rallied when designated hitter Matt Schlitter hit his first career homerun in the sixth while in the following inning the Highlanders hit back-to-back homeruns cutting down the lead 8-6. Derrick McCain and DeRogatis recorded homeruns.

The Highlanders threatened in the top of the eighth with bases loaded but relief pitcher Tommy Murphy was too much for the Highlanders, striking out the side.

The Cougars added another run with two outs when Nick Mauro hit an RBI double into the gap going up 9-6.

Legiadre (2-2) records the loss, pitching three innings, scattering seven hits and striking out three while Cougar Derek York (2-1) records the win pitching 4 ½ innings, letting up six hits and striking out three.

Leading the Highlander offense was McCain hitting 3-for-4 with two RBI and two runs. McCain hit his first homerun of the year in the seventh inning. Racz hit 2-for-5 with two runs.

For the Cougars Nike Mauro went 2-for-5 with two RBI on the day.

The Highlanders return to action when they host Dominican College at Commerce Bank Park in Somerset, NJ, Friday March 31st for a 4pm start.