EMERSON, GA—NJIT built an early one-run lead and Fort Wayne overcame the small deficit for a comeback win, edging the Highlanders, 5-3, in the first game as in the nightcap Canisius, held onto a 6-1 victory at the Perfect Game Tournament at LakePoint Complex Saturday.

Game 1 vs. Fort Wayne
Tied at 2-2 after one inning, the Highlanders (1-3) took the lead with one run in the top of the second inning.  But IPFW (3-4) chipped away and scored once in the fourth to tie the game at 3-3 and went ahead in the sixth with one run while adding its fifth run in the seventh inning.

The winning pitcher was Fort Wayne's second pitcher, Josh Crosby (1-0), who pitched the sixth inning, facing four NJIT batters.  Brandon Phelps tossed the final three scoreless innings, letting up two hits and striking out three Highlanders for his first save of the season. 

The losing pitcher for the Highlanders was junior RHP Johnny Malatesta (0-2), who pitched the fifth and sixth inning, and was charged with four hits, two runs (two earned) and two strikeouts.  Malatesta came in for junior RHP Sean Lubreski, who started and pitched four innings, allowing three runs (all earned).

Fort Wayne had 12 hits, paced by a 4-for-5 from CF Brady Hettinger while DH Travis Upp drove in a pair of runs, going 2-for-4.  Fort Wayne's SS Jackson Boyce (0-for-2), 3B Shannon Baker (0-3) and 1B Brock Logan (2-for-3) each posted one RBI for the Mastadons.
 
NJIT, with eight hits, was paced by a 2-for-5 from CF Jesse Uttendorder and C Edgar Badaraco, who finished 2-for-4.  DH Cody Kramer, LF Evan Pietronico and Uttendorfer each drove in a run for the Highlanders.

The Highlanders got things going in the bottom of the first, as Uttendorfer led off the inning with a single and Matthew Cocciadiferro doubled down the left field line.  Pietronico hit a sacrifice fly to CF, driving in Uttendorfer, for the first run of the game.  Kramer grounded out to shortstop, scoring Cocciadiferro, putting the Highlanders ahead, 2-0.

Fort Wayne tied the game at 2-2 in the bottom of the first on two hits.  Upp drove in both runs with a single to centerfield.

NJIT went ahead, 3-2, in the top of the second on a fielder's choice by Uttendorfer, scoring SS Justin Etts, who reached base on a single to left.

Fort Wayne tied the game at 3-3 on a single by Brock Logan in the fourth, and went ahead, 4-3, in the sixth inning on a fielder's choice by Baker.  Fort Wayne added a run in the seventh on a sacrifice fly to left field, scoring LF Jacob Dickson, who led off the inning with a single to left field.

Game 2 vs. Canisius
NJIT scored what would be its only run in the bottom of the third inning, but the rest of Saturday's nightcap belonged to Canisius, which rolled to a 6-1 win in nine innings at the Perfect Game Tournament.

The lone run for the Highlanders came off the bat of Uttendorfer in the bottom of the third on a solo shot to right field.  The home run was the first of the season for the junior center fielder.

The Highlanders held a 1-0 lead up until the fifth inning when Canisius scored on a double by Ryan Stekl to center field scoring Jake Lumley, who reached on a double down the left field line.

Canisius tacked on three in the top of the sixth and one run in the seventh and eighth inning, securing the 6-1 victory.

Starting and winning pitcher J.P. Stevenson (2-0) pitched the first six innings, holding the Highlanders to six hits and two walks, while striking out six. Reliever Brennan Smith combined to blank NJIT on a hit and two strikeouts over the final 2.2 innings, earning his first save of the season.

With 11 hits in the game, Canisius got three hits from 1B Stekl, who finished 3-for-4 with two RBI and one run while SS Lumley and CF John Conti each recorded two hits in the win.

The losing pitcher for NJIT was junior John Saviano (0-1), who allowed one hit on three runs (all earned) including three walks and one strikeout in 0.2 innings of work.

The Highlanders called on four more pitchers and all but Rex MacMillan, making his second collegiate appearance on the mound allowed at least one run.  MacMillan pitched the final inning, giving up one hit and striking out two.

Uttendorfer drove in the Highlanders only run of the game with a solo shot in the third inning, finishing 1-for-4.  RF Matthew Cocciadiferro and 1B Michael Anastasia both finished 2-for-4.

NJIT will conclude the Perfect Game Tournament on Sunday at 11am when the Highlanders face Chicago State.