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WASHINGTON, DC—Sophomore right-handers Johnny Malatesta and Tommy Derer combined for a nine-inning, four-hit shutout, to lead visiting NJIT past George Washington, 6-0, recording the fourth straight win for the Highlanders Tuesday at Tucker Field.

The win lifted NJIT's overall record to 7-8.  Tuesday's win was the first shutout by the Highlanders this season and the first since April 18, 2014, when they blanked Wagner, 5-0.  NJIT's win streak began last weekend with a three-game series sweep at Coppin State. 

George Washington dropped to 6-10 on the season.

Malatesta, making his second start of the season, picked up his first win of 2016 and sixth of his career, pitching 5.0 innings and allowing three hits and one walk.

Derer recorded his third save, pitching 4.0 innings, letting up one hit, striking out three Colonials while walking one.  In eight appearances for the Highlanders, Derer is 1-0 with a team-leading three saves in 14.2 innings pitched.  He leads NJIT with a 1.84 ERA.

The losing pitcher for the home team was the starter, Jordan Sheinkop (0-1), who allowed four hits and one run in 5.1 innings.  Three relievers combined to work the final four innings, allowing a combined five runs on seven hits.

NJIT scored a run in the first, got three in the seventh and added a two-run ninth inning to secure the 6-0 victory.

With 11 hits as a team, the Highlanders got three each from CF Jesse Uttendorfer and DH Stephan Halibej.  Halibej went 3-for-5, including his fifth double of the season and drove in a pair of runs.  SS Justin Etts finished 1-for-4 with two RBI.  Five other Highlanders – Etts, LF Evan Pietronico, C Cody Kramer, LF Michael Anastasia also registered a hit in the win.

NJIT's Uttendorfer led off the game with a triple, his first of the season to left field and would score the first run of the game on an RBI groundout by Etts.

The Highlanders added three runs on four hits in the seventh on an RBI single to left field by Uttendorfer.  Etts drove in the second run of the inning on a single to third while Pietronico put a single through the left side, giving the Highlanders a 4-0 lead.

In the ninth, Halibej drove in a pair of runs on a double down the left field line, scoring 3B Tom Brady, who led off the inning with a double to right field and Pietronico, who walked.

NJIT will head next to Annapolis, Maryland for four games.  The Highlanders will face Rutgers on Saturday at 10am, followed by a 2pm game vs. host Navy.  NJIT will conclude the weekend with a 12pm doubleheader against Navy.