Box Score 

SPARTANBURG, SC – Butler scored three runs in the fifth and two in the sixth inning Friday, to break open the game in the Bulldogs 9-3 win over NJIT in the season opener for both teams at the Courtyard by Marriott Classic hosted by USC Upstate.

The Bulldogs scored three times in the fifth inning, two more in the sixth and then four in the bottom of the eighth for a 9-0 lead before NJIT managed to get on the board with three in the top of the ninth.

Butler's 2B Luke Duncan went 3-for-5 at the plate with two runs scored.  Two Bulldogs had two hits each -- LF Andrew Eckhardt and 3B Grant Fillipitch.  Eckhardt scored two runs and drove in one RBI.

Jared Wagoner (1-0) started and got the win for the Bulldogs, working a strong seven innings and scattering three hits while allowing no runs with four strikeouts.  The Bulldogs used a different pitcher in each of the last two innings to seal the win.

For NJIT, senior 1B Kyle McCarthy and sophomore C Bryan Bleakley notched two hits apiece.  One of the hits for Bleakley was a homerun, scoring the team's first run. 

Bleakley's homerun, third of his career, came with one out in the top of the ninth inning.  McCarthy closed the scoring with a double down the right field line scoring James D'Aloia and Jeff Peterson.  Peterson pinch ran for sophomore SS Vincent Del Vecchio who reached base on a Bulldog fielding error and D'Aloia took first on a single to third.

NJIT's starting pitcher Bobby Wyrwa (0-1), returns to the mound after missing last season, takes the loss, pitching four scoreless innings up until the fifth inning, yielding seven hits and three runs.  After Wyrwa departed, the Highlanders used three different freshmen pitchers -- Frank Shivers, DJ Roche and Ian Wladika.  Roche pitched two scoreless innings for NJIT facing nine batters.

The Highlanders are slated to return to action Saturday at 12:00pm vs. Dayton.  Dayton is now (2-2) on the season with wins over Wake Forest and Wofford.