Photo Gallery
HIGH POINT, N.C. – Junior RHP
Sean Lubreski did not allow an earned run over 5.1 innings in the nightcap and the NJIT Highlanders (1-1) split a season-opening doubleheader with High Point (1-1) on Saturday afternoon at Williard Stadium.
The Highlanders captured game two by a 4-2 score after dropping an 11-0 decision to the Panthers in the opener of the twin bill.
High Point was picked to win the Big South Conference after posting a 32-24 record in 2016.
Game One
An eight-run third inning lifted High Point to an 11-0 victory in game one of the doubleheader on Saturday.
Carson Jackson's three-run blast proved to be the big blow in the inning and junior OF
Austen Zente knocked home a pair with a two-run double for the Panthers.
High Point RHP
Andrew Gottfried (1-0) got the start and allowed just one hit over five shutout innings. Junior RHP
Austin Heinz scattered five hits over four innings of relief and notched the save for the hosts.
RHP
Johnny Malatesta (0-1) was dealt the loss for the Highlanders after giving up 10 runs on 10 hits while walking a pair and fanning three in 2.1 innings.
Lubreski's younger brother, Brett, gave up just one run and registered three strikeouts in 3.2 innings of strong relief on the mound for NJIT, while redshirt sophomore RHP
James Sofield turned in 1.1 innings of scoreless baseball.
LF
Tim Mansfield got the scoring started for the Panthers in the top of the first with a two-run homer.
The Highlanders collected six hits on the afternoon, led by a 3-4 effort from freshman OF
Matthew Cocciadiferro. OF
Michael Anastasia, 1B/OF
Alex Burman and SS
Justin Etts each notched a hit apiece for head coach
Brian Guiliana's squad.
Game Two
Lubreski (1-0) allowed just one run (none earned) on four hits and struck out four over his 5.1 innings in a 4-2 win for the Highlanders in the nightcap of Saturday's doubleheader.
Sophomore LHP
Chris Gibbons (0.2 IP) and senior RHP
Bryan Haberstroh (SV, 3.1 IP, 0 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 1 K) combined to close the game out for NJIT in relief of Lubreski. Haberstroh recorded his first save of the season.
The Highlanders got the scoring started early as Panthers RHP
Trevor Holloway issued four walks in the top of the first inning. OF
Jesse Uttendorfer drew a free pass to start the inning, advanced to third on a pair of walks and scored when Etts reached via a fielder's choice.
Holloway (0-1) surrendered two runs on one hit while walking six and fanning three over three innings of work.
Etts drove in his second run of the day in the third and made it a 2-0 game with a sac fly to score Cocciadiferro who started the frame with a leadoff single.
In the top of the fifth, OF
Evan Pietronico reached with a one-out single and scored from first on INF
Tom Brady's RBI double to open up a 3-0 advantage for NJIT.
High Point had runners at the corners with one out in the sixth, but Gibbons came on in relief of Lubreski and was able to limit the damage to a Mansfield sac fly that made it a 3-1 game.
The Panthers threatened again in the seventh and had the bases loaded with one away, but Haberstroh sandwiched a pair of strikeouts around a bases-loaded walk and held the hosts to just one run.
Clinging to a one-run lead, senior C
Cody Kramer reached on an error, advanced to second on a sac bunt, took third on a single and scored on Pietronico's RBI single to provide an insurance run and give the Highlanders a 4-2 edge.
Pietronico directed the offensive efforts for NJIT with a 3-3 day, while knocking in a run, scoring another and also reaching base with a pair of walks.
The series wraps up with a single game on Sunday afternoon. First pitch from Williard Stadium is slated for 1 p.m.
Write-up courtesy of Joe Fitzhenry
