May 17, 2008

Box Score

DAYTON, OHIO - Wright State took a 10-3 victory over visiting New Jersey Institute of Technology Saturday night at Nischwitz Stadium.

Wright State, which rapped out 14 hits, got three from Ross Vagedes the Raiders six hitter and two apiece from John Kopilchack, RJ Gundolff and Sam Mote.

The three combined for 9-for-14 at the plate, with six runs batted in and five runs scored. Vagedes was 3-for-4 with three RBI and one run scored, including a two-run homer in the bottom of the fourth.

John Durket (6-2), the first of five Raiders pitchers, earned the win with a five-inning effort that included eight hits, two runs, a walk and two strikeouts.

The starting and losing pitcher for NJIT was junior LHP PJ Saporito, who pitched 2.2 innings and was charged with eight hits and seven runs, striking out four with two walks.

Two Highlander relievers followed Saporito. Junior Matt Melody came into pitch three innings letting up two hits and three runs before replaced by RHP Spiro Molfetas who closed out the game with a line score of: 2.1 innings, 4 hits, 1, strikeout, 0 runs, 0 walks.

NJIT, which finished with 10 hits - was led by tri-captain Matt Schlitter who went 3-for-4 with two singles and a double -- his 10th of the year. Six different players recorded at least one hit.

The Highlanders scored the first run of the game in the top of the first inning thanks to a leadoff walk by Miguel Lugo. With Lugo's speed he stole second and advanced to third on a groundout by DH Schlitter, putting himself in scoring position. Freshman Dom Hayes drove home the run with a single down the right field line.

Wright State, which tied the score in the bottom of the second inning on a leadoff homerun by catcher Jeff Mercer and went ahead as 2B Sam Mote's hit a two-run homer giving the Raiders a 3-1 lead. Mote drove in Kopilchack who tripled down the left field line.

The Raiders tacked on four runs in the fourth - the first run coming on a wild pitch; two on a homerun by Vagedes and the final run on a single up the middle by Kopilchack as Wright State went ahead 7-1.

NJIT added its second run of the game in the top of fifth, on an RBI single up the middle by Schlitter as he drove in 3B Tyler Hamilton. Hamilton reached base singling to shortstop and beating out the throw.

Highlander Rob Pietrocola legged out a triple to right center in the top half of the sixth. Senior Dan Morogiello grounded out to shortstop; driving in Pietrocola and tacking on the Highlanders third run of the game.

NJIT closes out the three-game series against Wright State on Sunday with a 12:00pm start. The Highlanders then wrap up its 2008 season at the National Independent Tournament, at host Texas-Pan American, in Edinburg, Texas from May 21-24.