Feb. 24, 2008

Box Score

SPARTANBURG, SC - NJIT scored a convincing 14-4 win over Tennessee-Martin to end the Highlanders' stay in the season-opening Courtyard by Marriott USC Upstate Baseball Classic on an upbeat note.

The Highlanders, who opened their second season of Division I competition with an 8-3 loss on Friday to host USC Upstate and then fell to George Washington, 12-5, on Saturday, got their first win of 2008 in Sunday's getaway game.

Senior LHP Cory Kuzmik, making the move to the starting rotation after three years as a record-setting bullpen closer, got the win in his second career start with five innings of two-hit ball, allowing three runs (one earned), while striking out five and walking four.

Senior RHP Rob Pietrocola gave NJIT good length in the bullpen, backing up Kuzmik with three solid innings, allowing a lone run, while junior LHP Matt Melody wrapped up the win with a one-two-three ninth inning.

The Highlanders piled up 13 hits, with nine different players getting into the hits column. Leadoff man CF Craig Binkiewicz, 2B Dan Morogiello, sophomore Rich Nazario and sophomore LF Ricky Petrosino all came up with two hits each.

Petrosino, a sophomore, spent his freshman season as a backup behind Binkiewicz and 2007 senior stars Kwesi Mitchell and Derrick McCain. In 2007, Petrosino had three at-bats. A starter now, he was 5-for-8 with three runs scored and three RBI in the three 2008 opening tournament games.

Pietrocola, who did not bat on Sunday, is 6-for-9 at the plate to open the season.

Binkiewicz, Nazario, freshman 3B John Berner and Petrosino all collected two RBI, as well, with Binkiewicz, Nazario and 1B Mike Turner all doubling to account for NJIT's three extra-base hits.

The balanced Highlanders had five different men--SS Miguel Lugo, C Matt Schlitter, Turner, Nazario and DH Chris Cardone--all score two runs apiece.

Lin Cates started and took the loss for UT-Martin, lasting 3.1 innings and yielding three runs (two earned) on five hits and five walks.

Leading, 3-2, through four innings, NJIT, the nominal visiting team, broke the game open with four runs in the top of the fifth.

Morogiello led off with an infield hit and then stole second, before Berner walked and Cardone singled to load the bases. After an out, Petrosino walked to force in a run, before Binkiewicz stroked a two-run double down the right field line. Lugo followed with a sacrifice fly, staking the Highlanders to a 7-2 lead.

They added two more runs in the top of the sixth for a 9-2 lead and added another big four-run outburst in the ninth.

The Highlanders will head back to the Palmetto State next weekend, where they will take on Furman in doubleheaders on Saturday and Sunday in Greenville, SC. Both doubleheaders are scheduled for 1 pm starts.