SPARTANBURG, SC—NJIT outfielders
Jesse Uttendorfer and
Matthew Cocciadiferro each recorded their fourth home run of the season in the Highlanders, 7-5, victory at USC Upstate Thursday evening in game one of the scheduled three-game ASUN Conference series at Harley Park.
The Highlanders move to 2-17 in the ASUN, 9-38 overall while picking up its third all-time victory over the Spartans (NJIT won two games; third game was washed out in 2016). USC Upstate drops its fifth straight game, falling to 5-14 in the ASUN, 22-31 overall.
NJIT jumped out to a 5-0 lead after two and went ahead 6-0 after the top of the fourth inning. The home team responded with five runs in the bottom of the fourth, pulling within one run of the Highlanders, 6-5, but the NJIT bullpen held the Spartans scoreless over the final five innings of play. NJIT added an insurance run in the top of the ninth and went on to win, 7-5.
Junior RHP
Andres Fernandez (2-3), the Highlanders second pitcher, was credited with the win, pitching 1.1 innings, surrendering two hits while senior RHP
Bryan Haberstroh picked up his team-leading fourth save, pitching three scoreless innings, and letting up one hit.
Cocciadiferro led the Highlanders with three RBI, going 2-for-4 with two runs, including his fourth home run of the season in the top of the second. Uttendorfer finished 2-for-3 with two runs and one RBI, a solo shot in the top of the second. NJIT SS
Justin Etts returned back to the lineup after missing the last five games due to a pulled hamstring and finished 2-for-4 with one RBI.
USC Upstate starting pitcher Conner Campbell (3-5) was stuck with the loss, pitching 1.2 innings, surrendering five runs on four hits.
The Spartans posted 10 hits in the game led by 2B Devon Ortiz, who finished 3-for-5 with one run followed by LF Pat Raiff (2-for-4; 1R, 1RBI) and C Charlie Carpenter (1-for-1; 1 RBI).
Visiting NJIT struck first in the top of the second, plating five runs with two outs on a RBI double down the left field line by 3B Rex MacMillian, a three-run homer by LF
Matthew Cocciadiferro and a solo shot by CF
Jesse Uttendorfer, taking a 5-0 advantage.
The Highlanders pushed it lead to 6-0 in the top of the fourth on an RBI single through the left side by SS
Justin Etts, scoring Uttendorfer, who doubled to right center.
USC Upstate tacked on five runs in the bottom of the fifth, pulling within one of the Highlanders, 6-5, on five hits and three Highlander errors.
NJIT added an insurance run in the top of the ninth on a ground out with bases loaded, scoring Cocciadiferro, for a 7-5 lead.
NJIT's Haberstroh retired the first two Spartans in the bottom of the ninth, before walking the next two batters. The senior veteran secured his fourth save of the season with a fly out to left field and the Highlanders held on for a 7-5 victory.
The two teams will return to action on Friday night at Harley Park. First pitch is set for 6pm on ESPN3.
