NEWARK, NJ—The scoring patterns differed, but the end result was the same Saturday, as visiting Saint Peter's swept a pair of seven-inning games from NJIT, 9-3 and 6-1, at Bears and Eagles Riverfront Stadium in the final 2009 home date for the Highlanders.

Saint Peter's took control of the opening game early, putting up five runs in the top of the first inning before NJIT ever had a chance to bat. And when the Highlanders got two runs in the bottom of the frame, the Peacocks reclaimed the momentum with three more runs in the top of the second inning. Leading 8-2 at that point, the visitors went on to a 9-3 win.

Each team scored a run in the first inning of the nightcap and the score remained in a 1-1 deadlock until Saint Peter's broke the tie with a run in the fourth inning and then added a run in the fifth and three more in the sixth against NJIT's tiring starter, freshman RHP Reid Okita (1-6).

The winning pitcher in the opener was Saint Peter's sophomore RHP Craig Hughes, who evened his season record at 4-4 with a complete-game five-hitter. He was charged with two earned runs and struck out four, while walking two.

The losing pitcher was NJIT starter RHP Steven Ace, who is 0-7. Ace, who allowed eight runs and six hits in the first two innings, settled down and yielded just one run and one hit over his next four innings of work.

Saint Peter's got another complete-game win in the nightcap, as freshman RHP Ethan Jackson (3-8) tossed a three-hitter, striking out five and walking three.

Two of the hits came in the first inning, as CF Jeffrey Pizzi, who was 2-for-4 in the first game, extended his consecutive-games hitting streak to 13 with a one-out double and then scored on a two-out single by 1B PJ Saporito.

Pizzi, who finished Saturday's doubleheader 3-for-6 at the plate, raised his season's batting average to .307 and is batting .452 during his 13-game hitting streak on 19-for-42.

NJIT's Okita, who allowed five hits through the first five innings, finished with a line of: 6 IP, 10 hits, 6 runs (5 earned), 3 BB, 5 K.

NJIT junior RHP Chris Parenti relieved one inning in each game of the doubleheader and did not allow a run.

The hitting leader for Saint Peter's in the first game was senior DH Mike McGuire, who was 2-for-3, with three runs batted in and two scored. He hit a two-run double in the Peacocks' five-run first inning and a solo home run, his fifth homer of the season, in the three-run second inning.

1B Brian Koster, a freshman, hit his first college home run, a two-run shot, in the first inning for SPC.

NJIT got two runs in the first inning on the team-leading third home run of the year for 3B John Berner.

Saporito later drove in a run with a single in the sixth inning. With one RBI in each game, the senior pushed his team-leading season total to 16, one ahead of Berner, the sophomore.

In the nightcap, SS Conor Mullee paced the Peacock hitters, finishing 3-for-4, including his third homer of the season, a solo blast that put the visitors on top, 2-1, in the fourth inning. Saint Peter's had eight different other men with a hit apiece, including three with doubles and one with a triple.

NJIT conducted Senior Day ceremonies between games Saturday, with recognition for Craig Binkiewicz, Thomas Farina, Matt Melody, and PJ Saporito, all of whom were four-year members of the Highlanders team. As freshmen, they played on the school's final NCAA Division II team, which won the 2006 ECAC championship and they have all been part of NJIT's first three Division I entries.

The Highlanders and Saint Peter's are scheduled to play another doubleheader in nearby Jersey City on Sunday, with first pitch at the Peacocks' home, Joseph J. Jaroschak Field in Hudson County Lincoln Park West, set for noon. That doubleheader will close out NJIT's 2009 season.