NEWARK, NJ—Junior catcher Stephan Halibej of NJIT drove in four runs, including the first two runs of the game on a third-inning home run, leading the Highlanders to 8-3 win over visiting LIU Brooklyn Friday afternoon in the first game of a four-game weekend baseball series at Riverfront Stadium.
 
The victory raised NJIT's season won-lost record to 7-7, while the Blackbirds of LIU are 7-10.
 
Halibej finished the game batting 2-for-4, with the home run and a double and the two top men in NJIT's batting order, CF Ed Charlton and SS Bryan Haberstroh each got three hits (Charlton, 3-5, double; Haberstroh, 3-for-3, 2 walks). The two table-setters also drove in a run apiece.
 
The Highlanders got strong pitching all-around, with senior RHP Joe Fasano (3-1) starting and going six solid innings, allowing three runs on seven hits hits without a walk.
 
Freshman RHP Tommy Derer worked a 1-2-3 seventh inning and senior LHP Tyler Kapp blanked LIU over the last two innings on two hits and a walk. Kapp, the senior, picked up his fifth save after protecting what was a 6-3 lead when he took the mound. He has saved five of NJIT's seven victories.
 
LIU Brooklyn used two pitchers, with senior RHP Brian Drapeau (0-3) starting an getting the loss after allowing six runs and nine hits in seven innings. Sophomore reliever Evan Flood allowed two runs (one earned) in his inning of work.
 
The Blackbirds had nine total hits, led by leadoff batter and center fielder Jon McAllister (3-for-5)
 
The teams were scoreless going to the bottom of the third inning, where Halibej unloaded a two-out home run over the left field fence, his first four-bagger of 2015 and fifth of his career.
 
The visitors scored three times in the top of the fifth inning, with all three runs coming in on LF Tommy Jakubowski's bases-loaded two-out double to right center.
 
The highlanders answered in the bottom of the frame, which began with back-to-back doubles for Charlton and Haberstoh, creating the first run. 3B Mike Rampone followed them with a single and Haberstroh came in from third base on an NJIT double play.
 
Ahead 4-3, the Highlanders added two runs in the seventh inning and two more in the eighth. Halibej drove in two runs with a double in the seventh and Charlton hit a run-scoring single in the eighth.
 
The series continues Saturday at noon with a doubleheader downtown at Bears and Eagles Riverfront Stadium. The games are each scheduled for seven innings.