April 29, 2006

Box Score Box Score

NEWARK, NJ - The first game of Saturday's baseball doubleheader was decided early and the second game was in doubt until the final pitch, but the end result was the same, as New Jersey Institute of Technology swept Philadelphia University, 12-3 and 9-6, Saturday at Bears and Eagles Riverfront Stadium.

In the opener, the Highlanders scored 11 times in the first two innings, setting up the 12-3 win. In the second game, NJIT took a 5-1 lead after two innings, but Philadelphia hung in and had the bases loaded with one out in the top of the seventh, and final, inning before Highlander sophomore Cory Kuzmik entered and struck out the next two batters.

Kuzmik, who had three saves as a freshman and saved Friday's win at Philadelphia, raised his 2006 saves total to five and his school-record career saves total to eight.

The sweep raised NJIT's overall record to 20-15--the record third straight 20-win season for the Highlanders, who could play as many as six more regular season games in their bid to match or surpass the school season wins record of 23, set in 2004.

NJIT, 23-24 in 2004 and 22-20 in 2005 had five different 20-win seasons under longtime successful coach Gene Schmid, whose clubs produced two back-to-back 20-win seasons in 1981 and 1982 and again in 1990 and 1991.

The Highlanders have won five of six since snapping a brief three-game skid are 12-10 in the Central Atlantic College Conference. Philadelphia is 11-33 overall and 8-18 in the CACC.

NJIT scored three times in the first inning and then eight more in the second inning of Saturday's opener, which began at 10 am. Meanwhile, freshman pitcher PJ Saporito was in command, allowing just a pair singles over the first five innings. He appeared to tire, allowing three hits and two runs in the sixth inning, before classmate Matt Melody finished up. Saporito raised his won-lost record to 3-4, tossing six strong innings and yielding five hits and two runs, while striking five without a walk.

The Highlanders pounded out 15 hits against three Philadelphia pitchers in the opener. Mike Turner (2-for-3) hit two home runs, his fifth and sixth of the season, scoring three runs and driving in three.

Austin DeRogatis was 3-for-4 in the opener, while Justin Racz, Rob Forbes, Jeff Potter and Dan Morogiello all collected two hits apiece. Forbes and Matt Schlitter each drove in two runs for NJIT.

Six different Philadelphia players combined for six hits in the opener. Zach Mentzer's sixth-inning double was the only extra-base hit for the Rams.

Trailing the second game, 1-0, the Highlanders plated five runs in the second inning, keyed by run-scoring singles for Morogiello and Craig Binkiewicz, plus three unearned runs.

Philadelphia came back with three runs in the third and one in the fifth, tying the game, 5-5, before NJIT regained control with two runs in the fifth and two more in the sixth on a two-run homer by Justin Racz.

The Rams did not go quietly, loading the bases with one out on a single, hit by pitch and a walk. A run came in on a bases-loaded walk to Josh Sobel, before Kuzmik came in and slammed the door with two strikeouts.

Kuzmik's fifth save preserved the win for Chris Parenti, the freshman starter, whose season record went to 5-0. He allowed five runs in five innings, on six hits and four walks, while striking out five.

Batting leaders in the second game for NJIT were Binkiewicz and Potter, with two hits each. Philadelphia's Keith Heck was 4-for-4 in the second game with two RBI, including a solo home run that knotted the game in the fifth inning. Teammates Bill Geary and Josh Sobel each drove in a pair.

The Highlanders will resume play on Tuesday, May 2, at 6 pm with a non-conference game against Concordia at Bears and Eagles Riverfront Stadium. The Senior Night game will be preceded by ceremonies honoring the NJIT seniors.