Photo Gallery vs. FGCU (Game #3)
NEWARK, NJ—Visiting FGCU went on to sweep NJIT, 10-6, to conclude the three-game ASUN Conference series Sunday afternoon at Riverfront Stadium.
The powerful FGCU squad, which achieved a top-10 national ranking by College Baseball Newspaper (in early March) recorded its 31
st overall victory with the three-game ASUN series sweep while, improving to 7-8 in the ASUN.
This season, the Eagles took two games from #2 Florida, defeated then-ranked #1 FSU, swept a three-game series from Big 10 Rutgers, edged #21 South Florida and most recently defeated Miami, 5-4, on April 12.
Starting pitcher Garrett Anderson (4-1) picked up the win for the Eagles, pitching 5.0 innings, allowing six hits and two runs while fanning five Highlanders. The Eagles used four different pitchers to close out the sixth, seventh, eighth and ninth innings.
FGCU 1B Nick Rivera finished 2-for-3, driving in four runs while C Spencer Levine went 3-for-5 with three RBI and four runs scored. SS Julio Gonzalez went 3-for-5 with two runs at the leadoff spot.
John Saviano (0-6) was credited with the loss for the Highlanders, pitching the first two innings. NJIT used three Highlanders to close out the game, with the most effective pitcher, RHP
Jared Kacso, pitching the fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh inning, surrendering three hits and two runs.
Sophomore CF
Michael Anastasia put together another strong game for the NJIT, driving in four of the Highlanders six runs, finishing 3-for-5 while SS
Justin Etts went 3-for-5 with two RBI. 2B
Johnny Malatesta finished 2-for-4 with two runs scored.
FGCU opened the scoring in the top of the third with three of doubles, a triple and a two-run home run by Rivera, jumping out to a 5-0 lead.
The Eagles Levine knocked out a two-run home run to left field, his fourth of the season in the top of the fourth, pushing the Eagles lead to 8-0.
NJIT got on the board in the bottom of the fifth with a double down the left field line by Anastasia, driving in Malatesta and DH
Evan Pietronico. Malatesta led off the inning with a single up the middle while Pietronico followed with a double into the left field gap.
The visitors plated a single run in the top of the sixth on a double down the right field line by Rivera, extending the Eagles lead to 9-2.
NJIT sent two across the plate in the bottom of the seventh as Anastasia drove in the Highlanders third run on a fielder's choice and Etts followed up with a single to right center field, scoring Pietronico, who led off the inning with a walk.
FGCU plated a single a run in the top of the eighth on a sacrifice fly to center by Rivera, pushing its lead, 10-4.
The Highlanders rallied for two runs in the bottom of the ninth, as Pietronico led off the inning with a walk as RF
Matthew Cocciadiferro followed up by a single to right field. Anastasia posted his fourth RBI of the game with a groundout to first, scoring
Pietronico and Etts doubled to left center to drive in Cocciadiferro, pulling within three of the Eagles, 10-6.
NJIT will host non-conference opponent Fairfield on Tuesday at Riverfront Stadium. First pitch set for 5pm.
