NEWARK, NJ—Maine combined strong efforts from both of its winning pitchers with a steady hitting attack to take both ends of a Friday baseball doubleheader from NJIT, spoiling the first 2010 home date for the Highlanders, 7-1 and 11-4.

The Black Bears, who were tabbed as the favorite to win the America East Conference in a preseason vote of that league's coaches, got six innings of one-run ball from starting pitcher Steve Perakslis (2-3) in the seven-inning opening game and then 4.1 innings of scoreless one-hit relief from winning pitcher Barry Keiffer (2-1) in the nightcap.

Keiffer, a slender left-hander who entered the game with a two-run lead and two men on base with no one out in the bottom of the fifth inning, got a pickoff for the first out and then retired the next nine batters he faced. His lone baserunner in more than four inning came on a single by NJIT SS Vincent Del Vecchio with one out in the eighth inning. Del Vecchio was soon erased from the bases on an inning-ending double play ball.

At the plate, the Black Bears, who are a deceptive 12-13 on the year (they were 1-6 in early season games at North Carolina and Oregon State, ranked 11th and 18th in the nation, respectively, when they hosted Maine) scored at least one run every other inning to take the first game, 7-1.

The big play was an inside-the-park three-run homer by Joey Martin, who lined the ball off the right field fence in the third inning and circled the bases as NJIT RF Jeffrey Pizzi, who ran full speed into the wall chasing the hit, rolled on the ground in pain.

Pizzi, who stayed on the ground for several minutes, left the field under his own power, but did not return to action in the doubleheader. He departed the stadium a few minutes later to seek medical attention with his injured arm supported by a sling. Coach Brian Callahan reported after the game that Pizzi's medical tests were negative.

Martin, who started in right field and later moved to first base for Maine, drove in four of the seven Black Bear runs in the opener. 2B Michael Fransoso, C Joe Mercurio, and 1B Myckie Lugbauer all had two hits for the visitors. Fransoso's two hits were doubles and he and Lewis each scored twice.

The starting and losing pitcher for NJIT was freshman RHP Mark Leiter (1-4). He went the first six innings and allowed nine hits and walked five, while striking out three.

Maine's Perakslis scattered six hits and walked one, with seven strikeouts, before Justin Latta came on to face three batters, striking out two, to nail down the win in the seventh inning.

NJIT, which got two hits each from LF Matt Petrone and CF Teddy Bickert, picked up its only run of the opener in the sixth inning. Kyle McCarthy led off the frame with a single and after an out, Petrone singled and Bickert followed with an RBI double down the left field line. Perakslis struck out the next two batters to avoid any more damage.

The outcome of the nightcap was in doubt until Maine, having inched ahead 5-3 after six innings, scored five runs in the top of the seventh to blow the game open.

NJIT took a quick lead with two runs in the first inning, but Maine tied it in the top of the third, before the Highlanders retook the lead with a run in the bottom of frame.

The Black Bears went ahead for good with small ball. CF Taylor Lewis led off with a bunt single and then stole second base. Ian Leisenheimer was hit by a pitch and Lewis eventually went to third base on a long fly out. With runners on first and third, Leisenheimer broke for second and then slowed down, intentionally getting in a run down, allowing Lewis to break for home once Leisenheimer had drawn the throw down to second. Both men were safe on the double steal play.

Maine added a run in the fifth and then got five in the seventh and two in the ninth, while the Highlanders scored a run in the bottom of the ninth inning.

Maine starter AJ Bazdanes allowed three runs through four innings and was in trouble in the fifth before Keiffer came on to stifle NJIT and earn the win.

NJIT starter Tripp Davis pitched better than his final line of 6.1 innings and eight runs (seven earned). He struck out five and walked one. He allowed two earned runs through the first six innings, but ran into trouble in Maine's five-run seventh inning. His record is 1-3.

Maine got 16 hits in the second game, led by three each from DH Tyler Patzalek and  Lewis. Three other Black Bears had two hits apiece. Maine had a double and two triples, plus a ninth-inning two-run home run over the left field fence for Justin Leisenheimer.

For NJIT, Del Vecchio (2-for-3) was the only player with multiple hits. 2B Matt Tomczyk had a two-out, two-run single that gave the Highlanders a 2-0 lead in the first inning. Freshman DH Jesus Jaile doubled in the third inning after the Highlanders had scored their third run, but he was one of two men left on base when Maine's Bazdanes notched two strikeouts to kill the NJIT rally.

NJIT and Maine are scheduled for another doubleheader on Saturday at 1 pm in Bears and Eagles Riverfront Stadium.