Box score

WILSON, NC—Presbyterian scored the only earned run of the game on a one-out double in the bottom of the 12th inning to edge visiting NJIT, 2-1, Saturday night in the first of a scheduled three-game non-conference weekend baseball series between the schools.
 
Presbyterian (9-6) scored an unearned run in the bottom of the third inning and NJIT (3-6) tied the score on an unearned run of its own in the top of the eight inning, setting up a result that wasn't resolved until the bottom of the 12th.
 
The Blue Hose began the game-winning frame when LF Nathan Chong, batting at the top of the order was hit by a pitch on an 0-2 count leading off. He moved to second base on a ground out and NJIT issued an intentional walk to 1B Brad Zebedis, who was 2-for-4, with a walk up to that point. The free pass also put a force out back in order at any of the three bases, However, RF Brendon Paul drove a 2-1 pitch into left field for a double, bringing home Chong with the winning run.
 
As a result, LHP Michael Ricchi, who had retired the one batter he faced in the top of the inning, earned credit for the win to go 1-0 on the season.
 
Presbyterian got excellent pitching from the three pitchers who preceded Ricchi on the mound. Starting lefty Beau Dees pitched five innings of two-hit scoreless ball with five strikeouts, but he walked four and hit two, raising his pitch count to 96. LHP Tom Corbin went the next 2.1 innings and allowed NJIT's one run (unearned) on two hits and a walk. And RHP Michael Trebendis went 4.1 innings without allowing a hit, while striking out five and walking two.
 
The hard-luck losing pitcher for NJIT was junior right-hander Matt Coughlin (1-1), who pitched four innings and allowed four hits and the deciding run. He had a strikeout, but walked four (two intentional), plus the fateful hit batter to open the bottom of the 12th.
 
The Highlander starter, senior LHP Tripp Davis, did not figure in the decision, but he allowed just the one unearned run in 7.1 innings, scattering six hits and walking two, with three strikeouts.
 
Presbyterian, which took two of its losses earlier in the week at the hands of Florida State (ranked fifth nationally), collected 10 hits, led by two each from Zebedis, Paul, and Cam McRae. NJIT, limited to four hits in 12 innings Saturday, got one each from 3B Matt Weckerle, DH Tom Bouck, C Soctt Brosman, and LF Nick Rabasco,
 
The Blue Hose got their first run with two outs in the third inning. Billy Motroni singled through the left side and came around to score when the next batter, Zebedis, singled up the middle and an error in center field on the play allowed the runners to keep going, with Motroni safe at home and Zabedis getting to third base on the throw.
 
That one run held up for the home team until the top of the eighth inning, when 1B Jeff Peterson reached first base on a one-out throwing error. The next batter, SS Nick Swim, was hit by a pitch, pushing Peterson ahead to second base. Brosman, the NJIT catcher, then singled to left field, driving home Peterson with the tying run. Swim stole third base and Trebendis relieved Corbin for Presbyterian.
 
Trebendis walked Rabasco on five pitches, loading the bases with one out, but the Highlanders couldn't do any more damage, as their next two batters popped out to strand the three runners.
Presbyterian would return the favor, leaving the bases loaded in its half of the 10th inning. After a scoreless 11th, NJIT got a two-out walk in the top of the 12th to Peterson from Trebendis, who gave way to Ricchi, who notched a strikeout on a 3-2 count to send the game to the bottom of the frame, where the home team plated the winning run.
 
The teams are slated to go at it again on Sunday in a doubleheader with first pitch at 11 am. The series is being played at Fleming Stadium in Wilson, NC, which is over 300 miles from Presbyterian's home in Clinton, SC.