NEWARK, NJ—With NJIT leading, 10-9, heading into the seventh inning, visiting Lipscomb scored six runs over the final three innings and went on to take game two of the three-game ASUN Conference series, 15-10, Saturday afternoon at Riverfront Stadium.
The Bisons improve to 5-6 in the ASUN, 19-17 overall while the Highlanders drop to 0-11 in the league, 4-30 overall, with 10 games remaining in ASUN Conference action, with the top six teams qualifying for the postseason tournament.
Lipscomb's third pitcher, John Pryor (2-1) was credited with the win, pitching the sixth, allowing two hits and one run while Kyle Kemp picked up his second save of the season, pitching the final three innings, holding the Highlanders scoreless.
The Bisons combined for 17 hits paced by designated hitter Jake Perry, who finished 4-for-5 with four runs batted in and two runs, including a home run and double. 1B Cabe Sorrells combined for a 2-for-6 day, posting four RBI and two runs.
NJIT starting pitcher
Tyler Stafflinger combined for a no-decision, pitching four innings, surrendering five hits and three runs while striking out five Bisons batters.
The Highlanders third pitcher,
Brent Jones (0-1), was stuck with the loss, entering the game in the seventh but was unable to work out of the inning before being relieved by
Andres Fernandez. Fernandez pitched the final 3.1 innings, allowing one run on three hits.
NJIT recorded 14 hits led by CF
Michael Anastasia's 3-for-4 performance with two runs batted in and three runs while freshman 1B
Alex Burman drove in a pair of runs, finishing 1-for-5. Designated hitter
Evan Pietronico, 3B
Bryan Haberstroh and 2B
Johnny Malatesta each posted two hits in the game as LF
Jesse Uttendorfer went 1-for-5 with two RBI and one run.
Lipscomb got things started early in the top of the first on a three-run homer by Cade Sorrells, his third of the season, to take a 3-0 lead.
The Highlanders plated a single run in the bottom of the first on a deep single to shortstop by SS
Justin Etts, scoring Pietronico, who led off the game for the Highlanders with a double to left field.
NJIT scored three runs in the bottom of the third, taking its first lead of the game, 4-3, after a triple to right field by
Jesse Uttendorfer, scoring RF
Matthew Cocciadiferro and Anastasia. Cocciadiferro reached on a fielder's choice, Anastasia followed with a single through the left side and Haberstroh drove in the fourth run to put the Highlanders ahead on a single to left field, scoring Uttendorfer.
Lipscomb scored five runs on six hits in the top of the fifth to regain the lead, 8-4.
The Highlanders added a pair of runs in the bottom of the fifth, pulling within two runs of the visiting Bisons, 8-6, as Burman's slice to the right side was bobbled by Lispcomb first baseman, scoring two Highlander runners.
NJIT's Anastasia and Burman drove in two runs each for the Highlanders in the bottom sixth to put the Highlanders back in front, 10-9. Anastasia hit a double over Lipscomb's center fielder, scoring 2B
Johnny Malatesta and Pietronico while Burman, with bases loaded and two outs knocked in a pair of runs with a single to right field, scoring Cocciadiferro and Anastasia.
Lipscomb scored five runs in the top of the seventh, including a three-run shot to center by DH Jake Perry, his fifth of the season, giving the Bisons a 14-10 advantage and added a single run in the top of the ninth on a groundout to short by SS Blake Thomas.
NJIT and Lipscomb will wrap up its three-game series on Sunday at Riverfront Stadium. First pitch set for 12pm.
