March 17, 2008

Box Score

WEST PALM BEACH, FL - Long Island broke a 1-1 tie in the bottom of the sixth putting up one run and two more in the seventh en route to a 4-1 victory over NJIT Monday night in the third game of NJIT's spring break trip in Florida.

Long Island broke the 1-1 knot on a RBI single to right field by James Jones. SS Greg DeSantis led off the inning with a double to left center and later scored on the single by Jones. NJIT's junior LHP pitcher Rob Pietrocola dug down deep with bases loaded and struck out the side bringing some energy to the Highlander bench.

The Blackbirds added two runs in the seventh inning taking a 4-1 lead on a led off double down the left field line by Dan Pirillo. He then stole third and later scored on a passed ball.

The Highlanders got on the board quickly Monday night in the top of the first as LF Craig Binkiewicz reached base on a hit by pitch. Senior tri-captain Matt Schlitter reached first on an error by Long Island's second baseman. Senior 1B Mike Turner registered the first RBI of the game hitting into a fielder's choice giving NJIT a 1-0 lead.

Long Island answered with a run in the bottom of the first on a routine ground ball by RF Frank Dimasi scoring Gerard Tingos.

3B DeSantis went 1-for-2 with two runs scored while Dimasi and Jones recorded an RBI apiece for the Blackbirds. SS Pirillo and OF Johnnie Neckar registered one hit.

RHP Eric Hinkle pitched 7.1 innings recording the win, striking out six and letting up one run. The Blackbirds used two relievers shutting down the Highlanders in the last two innings.

NJIT's Pietrocola records the loss, pitching 6.0 innings while fanning five. Reliever Matt Melody closed out the game pitching the final two frames for the Highlanders fanning four.

Four different Highlanders recorded a hit on the night: OF James D'Aloia, DH Matt Schlitter, SS Matt Marotta, and CF Ricky Petrosino.

The Highlanders will return to action on Wednesday, when they face No. 5 Miami at Coral Gables at 7:00pm.