April 6, 2008

Box Score

BANGOR, ME - NJIT scored a run in the top of the first inning, but New York Institute of Technology claimed the lead with two runs in the third inning and then added at least one run in every remaining inning for an 11-2 win over the Highlanders in a neutral-site baseball game hosted by the University of Maine Sunday midday.

The Highlanders, who were limited to three totals hits by three NYIT pitchers, got on the board first with a run on a hit in the first inning, before NYIT took the lead with two runs in the third inning and then two in the fourth, two in the fifth, one in the sixth and then two runs in each of the last two innings.

Andrew Guarrasi (2-1) started an allowed one run in six innings to get the win, while reliever Eric Johnson allowed a run with yielding a hit in one inning and then Louis Bernardi pitched two scoreless, hitless innings to wrap up the win for the Bears.

Senior LHP Rob Pietrocola (0-3) was the starting and losing pitcher for NJIT, allowing six runs (five earned) in 4.2 innings. NYIT tacked on five runs against two Highlander relievers.

Pietrocola held NYIT hitless through the first two innings before the Bears staged a two-out rally in the third inning, going ahead on an RBI single by DH Effrey Valdez and then taking the lead for good on an unearned run on NJIT's only error of the game.

Valdez was one of four NYIT hitters to collect two hits. Another, RF Joe Lucente, was 2-for-4 with two RBI, while leadoff batter 3B Denten Neill also drove in two runs.

The three NJIT hits were a double by DH Matt Schlitter and singles by SS Miguel Lugo and RF Dom Hayes.

The first NJIT run came in the first inning when LF Craig Binkiewicz led off with a walk and moved to second on Lugo's single. Back-to-back ground outs brought Binkiewicz around to score, with the RBI coming on the second ground out off the bat of Hayes.

The Highlanders got their second run in the eighth inning when the first three batters--Lugo, Schlitter and Hayes walked to load the bases and Lugo scored on a double play.

NJIT played Maine later on Sunday.