JERSEY CITY, NJ—The baseball game between NJIT and Saint Peter's Tuesday afternoon held at Jaroschak Field has been ruled an 8-8 tie after 10 innings, called due to darkness.
NJIT is 10-7-1 and Saint Peter's is 2-14-1 following the first tie for the Highlanders in their Division I era, which began in 2007.
NJIT scored the first five runs of the game, but Saint Peter's scored four in the bottom of the fourth pulling to pull to within a lone run at 5-4. The Peacocks then surged ahead with three runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to take a 7-5 lead.
The SPU lead was short-lived, however, as the Highlanders came right back for three runs of their own in the next half-inning.
Back down a run, Saint Peter's knotted the score at 8-8 in the bottom of the seventh.
Both teams were held scoreless in the eighth, ninth and 10th frames before the game was called due to darkness.
NJIT used four pitchers, none of whom worked more than 3.2 innings. Freshman LHP
Justin Chin made the start, pitching 3.2 innings and allowing four runs with three strikeouts. The first reliever, freshman RHP
James Sofield, making his fourth appearance of the season, pitched three innings and allowed four hits and four runs. The last two Highlander pitchers, RHP
John Saviano and LHP
Tyler Kapp, did not give up a hit and held the Peacocks scoreless over the final three innings.
The Highlanders, with 10 hits, were led by freshman LF
Matt McKinnon, who finished the game 3-for-4 with three RBI. Two Highlanders collected two hits apiece—1B
Stephan Halibej and SS
Bryan Haberstroh.
Saint Peter's used five pitchers, the first two pitching no more than 3.2 innings. The third reliever for the Peacocks faced three Highlander batters and Tom Puza and Paul Schifilliti gave up a hit apiece, keeping the Highlanders at bay over the last three innings.
Junior 2B Rob Moore went 2-for-5 and 3B Vinny Maietta finished 2-for-3 for the Peacocks. Six Peacocks collected one hit apiece. Freshman 1B Christopher Micak drove in two runs, while batting 1-for-3.
The Highlanders got the scoring started in the top of the first inning. The first run came home on a RBI single to left field by Halibej, scoring CF
Ed Charlton, who led off the inning with a single and later stole second.
NJIT added a run in the top half of the second on a double to right center from McKinnon which drove in C
Cody Kramer. Kramer led off the inning with a walk, advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt and scored on the double by McKinnon.
The Highlanders scored three runs in the top half of the fourth with two outs. Two Highlanders crossed the plate on bases loaded walks and the third run was driven in by Haberstroh's single to right field.
Saint Peter's got back four runs on five hits in the next half-inning to make it 5-4, NJIT. Peacocks Maietta and senior C Michael Wulff hit two-out singles up the middle to drive in a run apiece, while Micak doubled to right field, sending home two.
The Peacocks added three runs in the bottom of tbe sixth, with two hits and two NJIT errors to take their 7-5 lead.
NJIT reclaimed the lead with three runs in the top of the seventh. McKinnon knocked a two-run single and Kramer scored on a Peacock throwing error. Freshman 2B Matt Salter drove in the final Highlander run in the seventh for an 8-7 lead.
Saint Peter's tied the game in the bottom of the seventh. LF Chris Hugg started the inning, reaching on an error, moved to second on Moore's single through the right side and to third on a wild pitch before touching home on yet another error to tie the game at 8.
The two teams played three more innings, but the contest was halted due to darkness after the 10th inning.
NJIT will return to action on Friday when the Highlanders host NYIT at Riverfront Stadium. First pitch is scheduled for 3pm.
