KENNESAW, GA—For the second day in a row, NJIT built an early two-run lead and for the second day in a row, Kennesaw State overcame the small deficit for a comeback win, edging the visiting Highlanders 5-3 Saturday afternoon in the second game of a three-game Atlantic Sun Conference baseball series.
 
Trailing 1-0 after one inning, the Highlanders (12-17; 2-2 A-Sun) took the lead with three runs in the top of the second inning. But Kennesaw State (13-19, 4-1 A-Sun) chipped away and scored once in the third inning and once in the fourth before going ahead to stay on a pair of runs in the bottom of the sixth inning.
 
The winning pitcher was the Owls starter, junior RHP Gabe Friese (4-1), who pitched a strong seven innings and held NJIT to seven hits and three runs. Junior lefty Richard Lovelady tossed a perfect eighth inning for his seventh consecutive scoreless relief appearance and junior RHP Erich Stahl earned his fifth save, retiring three in a row after a leadoff error behind him in the ninth inning.
 
The losing pitcher for the Highlanders was sophomore RHP Johnny Malatesta (1-3), who pitched the last three innings and was charged with four hits and two runs. He came on for senior LHP Ian Bentley, who started and pitched five innings, allowing three runs (two earned).
 
Kennesaw State had 12 hits, paced by a 4-for-5 from sophomore DH Griffin Helms, who drove in a pair of runs, as did C Brennan Morgan (1-for-5). LF Corey Greeson (3 runs scored), 1B Austin Upshaw, and RF Justin Motley all added two hits apiece to the Owls cause. The only extra-base hit was leadoff double by Greeson that set up KSU's first run in the bottom of the first inning.
 
NJIT, with seven hits and no walks, was paced by a 2-for-4 from freshman RF Michael Anastasia. The only extra-base hit for the Highlanders was a double by 1B Bryan Haberstroh (1-for-4) that brought in two of NJIT's three third-inning runs. Haberstroh picked up the third score by stealing home on a double steal play with Malatesta, who took second base on the play.
 
DH Stephan Halibej started NJIT's big inning with a leadoff single up the middle and C Cody Kramer followed with another single. 3B Tom Brady sacrificed to put both runners in scoring position and they came home on Haberstroh's one-out double to center field. After a second out, Malatesta, who started the game for NJIT at second base, got an infield single, setting up the double steal play.
 
Kennesaw State got a run back in the bottom of the third when 3B Jeremy Howell drew a walk with the bases loaded and the Owls tied the score at 3-3 in the bottom of the fourth when Helms hit an RBI single to bring in 2B Grant Williams who had reach base on an error leading off the frame.
 
The Owls broke the 3-3 tie with two runs in the bottom of the sixth inning. KSU loaded the bases with one out, setting the stage for Morgan to deliver a two-run single to left field.
 
NJIT got base runners in each of the last three innings, but couldn't manage any runs.
 
The series is scheduled to conclude with a single game on Sunday a 1 pm in KSU's Stillwell Baseball Stadium.